Knightly legends of Wales : or, The boy's Mabinogion, being the earliest Welsh tales of King Arthur in the famous Red book of Hergest

T':i"^/^ ¥*MT I\ i

I FGrND

JL? *-?VJ[ iwi i i^

' '; • -N.

X

\ X

-rVl

( 'k i.t

•

f,

lUQi

00

o

NY PUBLIC LIBRARY THE BRANCH LIBRARIES

3 3333 08575 2786

10015

§Lanier,

Bob. The Story of our Mocking Bird. With \6
full-page illustrations in colors from photographs
by A. R. DUGMORE. Square i2mo. $1.50.

Letters of Sidney Lanier. Selections from his
Correspondence, 1 866- J 881.
Crown 8vc. $2.00.

Retrospects and Prospects,
torical Essays. Crown 8vo.

With two Portraits.

Descriptive and His-
$1.50.

Music and Poetry. A Volume of Essays. Crown
8vo, $1.50.

The English Novel. A Study in the Development
of Personality. Crown 8vo, $2.00.

The Science of English Verse. Crown 8vo,

$2.00.

Poems. Edited by his Wife, with a Memorial by
WILLIAM HAYES WARD. With Portrait. Crown
8vo. $2.00.

Kai and His Companions at the Castle of the Giant Gwrnacli.

KNIGHTLY LEGENDS

of

*r

OR * '

' ( '

THE BOY'S

HEING THE EARLIEST WELSH TALES OF KING ARTHUR
THE FAMOUS RED BOOK OF HERGEST

> ,' '
, • ,V

EDITED FOR BOYS WITH AN INTRODUCTION

BY

SIDNEY LANIER

EDITOR OF "THE BOY'S FROISSART" AND "THE BOY'S KING ARTHUR"

Illustrated by Alfred Fredericks

NEW YORK

CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS

1905

.•..:••••:":•

,''••'*•'«*
«. «.• .

COKYRIGHT, 1881, 1884, CV«
c * ','1 c ' , * •• * •

Bv c i : \ K i . -.s. ' sr R t P.NF.R'S tSoNS.

* ,

INTRODUCTION.

IN the library of Jesus College, Oxford, is an ancient
Welsh MS. called Llyfr1 Cock2 O Hergest; 3 that
is, The Red Book of Hergest. This MS. was written
in the fourteenth century, though some of the com-
positions which it has collected are of a much earlier
date. It contains a number of poems, together with a
body of prose romances called Mabinogion.*

In the year 1838 Lady Charlotte Guest published a
translation of these Mabinogion, accompanied by the text
of their Welsh originals and a mass of useful and schol-
arly notes. Her work bore this gracious dedication : —

1 "Llyfr" means book (compare French livre, Latin liber). Perhaps I can par-
tially indicate the impression which the word makes upon an English ear when pro-
nounced in Welsh, thus : consider it composed of two syllables, Lly and/r; for the
first syllable reproduce the sound of yie in the English word yield with a strongly
lisped or aspirated / before it, and mingled with it, as Ihyie, for the second, give the
sound of vre in the French word livre; making Ihyie-vre, accent on the first syllable.

2 Red. Pronounced Koch, with the ch very guttural as in the Scotch loch or
the German ack, and the o long.

3 Hergest has the g hard, as in English begin.

4 Pronounced with accent on o, which is long and somewhat drawled ; the a, as in
man; the fs short; and the g hard, as in give; about Mab-bin-o' -gi-on. " Mabino-
gion " is the plural form : the singular is " Mabinogi."

iii

iv Introduction.

TO IVOR AND MERTHYR.

Mv DEAR CHILDREN, — Infants as you yet are, I feel that I can-
not dedicate more fitly than to you these venerable relics of ancient
lore, and I do so in the hope of inciting you to cultivate the Litera-
ture of " Gwyllt Walia," in whose beautiful language you are being
initiated, and amongst whose free mountains you were born.

May you become early imbued with the chivalric and exalted sense
of honor, and the fervent patriotism for which its sons have ever
been celebrated.

May you learn to emulate the noble qualities of Ivor Hael, and
the firm attachment to your native country which distinguished that
Ivor Bach, after whom the elder of you was named.

I am your affectionate mother,

C. E. GUEST.
DOWLAIS, Aug. 29, 1838.

Several considerations made me strongly desire to
re-edit, upon the same plan with The Boys Froissart and
The Boys King Arthur, the curious old products of
Welsh fancy thus rendered available to scholars. The
intrinsic charm of the stories themselves in the first
place would easily have secured them a position in this
series. Though not so rich as the Arabian Nights, they
are more vigorous, and their fascination is of a more
manful quality. Moreover, they are in comparison open-
air tales, and do not move in that close, and, if one could
think such a thing, gas-poisoned, temperature which often
renders the atmosphere of the Eastern tales extremely
unwholesome.

Introduction.

But in the second place the Mabinogion all centre, in
one way or another, about the court of King Arthur, and
present us with views of the domestic life going on in King
Arthur's palace, as well as of the wild adventures of his
warriors, which were conceived at a very much earlier
and ruder period than that of Sir Thomas Malory's book ;
so that this collection of the earliest Arthurian legends
seemed to make a peculiarly happy companion-book to
The Boy's King Arthur, which was last published in this
series. Indeed, it is probable that in these Mabinogion
here following we have the original germs of that great
growth of Arthurian romances which overspread Europe
after Geoffrey of Monmouth published his History of
the Britons, and of which I gave some account in the
Introduction to The Boy's King ArtJmr. Readers of that
Introduction will remember the statement there given,
in which Geoffrey of Monmouth himself declares that his
main material consisted of a Welsh book given him by
a certain person since supposed to be Walter Map (or
Mapes). Although several of the following Mabinogion
have probably received additions from foreign sources in
the course of time — an original Welsh story, for example,
would be carried by some traveller into other parts of
Europe, would there be retold with additions and varia-
tions, would find its way back in the new form to Wales,
and thus re-appear after a while in Welsh collections ; yet
others are in a nearly pure state. In order to bring these
two classes into striking contrast, and to show how much

vi Introduction.

a foreign admixture of this kind might smooth down
the grotesque ruggedness of its Welsh original, I have
changed the order of the Mabinogion as given in Lady
Guest's arrangement, and have placed the story of Kilhwch
and Olwen, which is almost hideous in many of its huge
fancies and distortions and is pure Welsh, immediately
next to the story of The Lady of the Fountain, whose
daintiness, luxury, black savages, and the like, seem here
and there to indicate foreign touches. The general tone
and essential spirit, however, of the whole, are distinctly
Welsh, and old Welsh. I think it curious indeed to note
how curious those old romances, or Mabinogion, seem to
us in spite of the long intimacy and nearness between
Welsh and English. They impress most readers with a
greater sense of foreignness, of a wholly different cultus,
than even Chinese or other antipodal tales ; and over and
above this there is a glamour and sleep-walking mystery
which often incline a man to rub his eyes in the midst of
a Mabinogi, and to think of previous states of existence.

It is another feature of this same difference between
Welsh and English modes of thought which forms a
third, and to me the most weighty, reason for bringing
these Mabinogion before my young countrymen at this
particular time. I can illustrate this difference most
vividly by asking you to consider the following group of
Welsh conceits and notions which I have assembled from
various sources, upon the single thread of their likeness
in extravagance, in wildness beyond all tolerance of

Introduction. vii

reason, in lawlessness. Of course they are not to be
taken as ordinary representative specimens ; and I shall
presently counterbalance them with some very beautiful,
moderate, and wise examples of Welsh art. But they
unquestionably show a tendency so characteristic as to
be easily traceable.

Take, for instance, the following story concerning the
famous mantle of King Ryence. Readers of King Arthur
will remember the young sovereign's manful defiance,
when, soon after his elevation to the throne, a messenger
came from King Ryence demanding King Arthur's beard
(though, indeed, he must have been too young to have
one) to complete a mantle which King Ryence was pur-
fling (bordering) with kings' beards, — a demand which
Arthur pronounced "the most villainous and lewdest
message that ever man heard sent to a king." The
following version shows what prodigiously different forms
the same narrative may assume.

Once upon a time two kings of Old Biitain were walk-
ing together at night. Their names weie Nynniaw and
Peibiaw.

" See," said Nynniaw, " what a beautiful and large
field I own ! "

"Where is it ? " said Peibiaw.

"The whole firmament," said Nynniaw.

"And do thou see," said Peibiaw, "what countless
herds of cattle and sheep / have, feeding in thy field ! "

" Where are they ? " said Nynniaw.

viii Introduction.

"Why, all the stars which thou seest," replied Peibiaw^
"with the moon for their shepherdess."

"They shall not graze in my pasture," said Nynniaw.

"They shall" said Peibiaw.

"They shall not" cried Nynniaw.

And then words arose between these two kings so
bitter that they summoned their soldiers and fell to war
wherein they continued until the armies of both wer*>
nearly destroyed. Seeing that such was the fact, Rhitta
the giant, King of Wales (who is Sir Thomas Malory's
King Ryens of North Wales), levied war against both, as
being madmen dangerous to all their neighbors ; and,
having defeated their forces, he cut off the beards of
kings Nynniaw and Peibiaw. But at this time there were
twenty-eight kings in the Island of Britain, and when the
others heard of these things, they marched all together
against King Rhitta to avenge the insult of the beard.
In the battle which followed, however, Rhitta was again
victor. "This field is mine," said he, and cut off the
beards of those kings. These matters being told abroad,
the kings of all the surrounding countries made common
cause against Rhitta, and presently waged a great battle
with him. Still, Rhitta conquered all these. " The great
field is mine," he said again ; "and," cutting off all their
beards, " these are the herds that fed in my field ; but
I have driven them out." Then he made a mantle for
himself out of all those beards, and although he was a
giant twice as large as the largest man ever known, that
mantle reached from his head to his heels.

Introduction. ix

Or take the exactions of a certain messenger called
"The Little Peacock" (Y Paun Bach], who was sent by
a certain David, Prince of North Wales, to fetch Gwgan
(Googan, nearly) the bard to court. After a long journey,
towards the close of the evening the Little Peacock
heard sounds of the tuning of a harp from a house in a
wooded valley where he had arrived. "The style of
playing and the modulation " led him to suspect that this
was Gwgan's house ; and in order to be sure he ad-
vances and pours forth a high-flown speech to Gwgan,
who replies in the like lofty vein, finally inquiring what
he would have. " I want lodging," quoth Y Paun Bach,
" for to-night . . . and that not better than I know how
to ask for. ... A lightsome hall, floored with tile, and
swept, in which there has been neither flood nor rain-
drop for the last hundred years, dressed with fresh green
rushes, laid so evenly that one rush be not higher than
the other the height of a gnat's eye, so that my foot
should not slip either backward or forward the space of
a mote in the sunshine of June ; " together with similar
superb requirements as to the cushion beneath him, the
pillow under each elbow, the fire, the supper, the servants'
livery, and the quantity of his ale.

Or this itemized account of a monster, which, though
not Welsh, is Gaelic, and shows the general Keltic pro-
clivity. "... they saw a couple approaching them, — a
woman and a man ; larger than the summit of ... a
mountain was each ... of their members ; sharper than

Introduction.

a shaving-knife the edge of their shins ; their heels and
hams [were] in front of them ; should a sackful of apples
be thrown on their heads not one of them would fall to
the ground, but would stick on the points of the strong,
bristly hair which grew out of their heads ; . . . whiter
than snow their eyes ; a lock of the lower beard was
carried round the back of the head, and a lock of the
upper beard descended so as to cover the knees ; the
woman had whiskers, but the man was without whiskers."
Or the King Yspaddaden Penkawr, in the following
story of Kilhwch and Olwen> whose eyebrows hung over
his eyes to such a degree that they had to be propped up
with forks ; as well as the amazing qualifications of King
Arthur's warriors, detailed in the same story, — such as
of him whose dagger was so broad that King Arthur's
army was accustomed to use it for a bridge in passing
rivers ; or him who could hear the touch of a gnat's foot
on the ground at a great distance, or of him who could
see a mote in a sunbeam at either of the four corners of
the earth, or him whose red beard lay completely along
the twenty-eight rafters of the king's hall, or of him
whose lips were so large that he was accustomed to draw
the lower down for an apron and to lift up the other for a
hood ; and others still more marvellously absurd. If we
compare these with the wildest flights in Malory's King
Arthur, nothing can be clearer than the constant presence
in the latter of a certain reasonable restraint, a sober
proportion, a sense of the supreme value of law, even in

Introduction. xi

the most apparently lawless excursions. It would be
going far beyond proper bounds to discuss here how
this subtle feeling for the beauty of restraint, this under-
lying perception of the artistic necessity of law and order,
has quietly reigned, not only over the advance of English
literature, but has been also the moving spirit, the per-
petual King Alfred, of the whole of English development
in general. And, as hinted, I have thought this considera-
tion particularly forcible at the present moment in our
own country, where the making of statutes increases in
exact proportion to the decrease in the popular esteem for
them. Daily and endlessly our Legislatures multiply laws
and murder Law. But — may I not add, if only as one
of those utterances which a boy sometimes profitably
remembers, though at first dimly understood — the love
of Law beyond all laws would seem to be particularly
vital in a republic ; being a principle so comprehensive,
that at one extreme, in contact with certain tendencies,
it flowers into that sense of proportion, of the due rela-
tion of all parts of the universe to the whole, which is the
artist's largest perception of beauty, and is the main out-
fit of genius in constructing Mabinogion, in literature,
in all art ; while at the other extreme, working with
certain other tendencies of character, the same love of
Law is at once the root of decorous behavior on the
part of the private citizen, and of large statesmanship
on the part of the public official.

But while this danger of extravagance certainly exists

xii Introduction.

in the products of Welsh fancy, they possess many quali
ties which have wrought with fine influence upon general
English life and literature. Among the oldest remains of
Welsh poetic wisdom that have come down to us are what
were called The Triads, in which wise aphorisms and
sayings are effectively grouped together by threes. The
four following examples of this form of composition show
an insight and breadth which render them instructive to
the wisest readers of our own time.

I.

"The three qualifications of poetry: Endowment of genius, judg-
ment from experience, and happiness of mind.

II.

The three primary requisites of genius: An eye that can see
nature, a heart that can feel nature, and boldness that dares follow
nature.

III.

The three foundations of judgment : Bold design, constant practice,
and frequent mistakes.

IV.

The three foundations of learning: Seeing much, suffering much,
and studying much."

It would be difficult to find more wisdom in fewer
words, or loftier thought in simpler terms ; and any young
reader of The Mabinogion will have done a good day's
work if he will commit these words so thoroughly that

Introduction. xiii

they will say themselves over to him, day by day, as a
noble and fruitful formula, alike stimulating in every line
of life, from the ploughman's to the president's. Among
the Welsh, indeed, as far back as history can pierce, we
find an almost adoring reverence for the poet. To assume
the function of a bard is to assume the function of the
wisest man and best teacher in society ; and therefore
the utmost pains are taken with the young bard's educa-
tion, and he is held bound to know all that can be known.
One supreme name stands out among ancient Welsh
bards, which I will ask you to remember in this connec-
tion. This is TALIESIN, whose name signifies " Shining
Brow." He is the hero of one of the following Mabino-
gion which bears his name for a title. Some specimens
of his poetry will there be found ; and a few facts as to
his life are added in a footnote. The poet of next rank
to him is perhaps Llywarch Hen, who, as well as Taliesin,
belongs to the sixth century. The word " Hen " means
old; and " Old Llywarch " seems a sort of expression of
endearment. This is a specimen of his more pathetic
song. His youngest son, Gwenn, had been slain in battle.

" Let the wave break noisily : let it cover the shore when the joined
ances are in battle. . . . Let the wave break noisily: let it cover the
plain when the lances join with a shock. . . . Gwenn has been slain
at the ford of Morlas. . . . Here is the tomb of Gwenn, the son of
the old Llywarch. Sweetly a bird sang on a pear-tree above the head
of Gwenn, before they covered him with turf : that broke the heart of
the old Llywarch."

xiv Introduction.

I wish there were time to speak of Aneurin, the battle-
singer ; or to give the curious triad published among the
lolo Manuscripts, describing " The Nine Impulsive Stocks
of the Baptismal Bards of Britain" ; or to cite some brief
beauties of still less-known poets, — such as the wild
Hebrew outcry of the King Gwyddno Garanhir, which
swept over the waste floods covering his plains and cities
after the total destruction of his kingdom by the sea
through the drunkenness of Seithenin, who had been left
to watch the embankment on a night of revelry, —

" Stand forth, Seithenin, and behold the dwelling of heroes, — the
plain of Gwyddno the ocean covers !

Accursed be the sea guard, who after his carousal let loose the
destroying fountain of the raging deep.

Accursed be the watcher, who after his drunken revelry loosed
the fountain of the desolating sea.

A cry from the sea arises above the ramparts ; even to heaven
does its ascend, — after the fierce excess comes the long cessation !

A cry from the sea ascends above the ramparts ; even to heaven
does the supplication come ! — after the excess there ensues restraint !

A cry from the sea awakens me this night ! —

A cry from the sea arises above the winds !

A cry from the sea impels me from my place of rest this night !

After excess comes the far extending death ! "

— or as the saying of Heinin Vardd, preserved in the
fragment, —

" Hast thou heard the saying of Heinin,
The Bard of the college of Llanveithan ?
The brave is never cruel"

Introduction.

In this connection I. will ask you to notice also the
intense feeling for color, which, in some of the following
Mabinogion, spreads an almost Oriental luxuriance of tint
over the scenes. The Lady of the Fountain (the first
Mabinogi of the following collection), for example, shows
us King Arthur reclining upon green rushes, with a
cushion of red satin under his elbow, Guenever and her
ladies grouped at the other end of the hall, mantles of
flame-colored satin, gilded bows, gold-headed arrows
winged with peacocks' feathers, gold-banded garments,
shoes of variegated leather, twenty-four youths with
golden hair, rooms with all the panels painted in gorgeous
colors, the coal-black savage, white whalebone (ivory of
the narwhal's tooth, probably), and the like. Or we have
a quaint extravagant scene like that in the Mabinogi of
Peredur (the modern Percival of the Arthur series) :
where, upon a certain occasion, Peredur was observed
with his eyes fixed upon a certain spot, sunken in deep
meditation. All attempts to get his attention failed ; he
was cuffed, boxed, even overthrown ; until, after a final
catastrophe (for which see the story), Peredur explains
that he is studying certain effects of color produced by
the following circumstances ; after spending the night in
a hermit's cell, "in the morning he arose, and, when he
went forth, behold a shower of snow had fallen the night
before, and a hawk had killed a wild fowl in front of the
cell, and the noise of the horse scared the hawk away,
and a raven alighted upon the bird. And Peredur stood

xvi Introduction.

and compared the blackness of the raven, and the white-
ness of the snow, and the redness of the blood, to the
hair of the lady that best he loved, which was blacker
than jet, and to her skin, which was whiter than snow,
and to the two red spots upon her cheeks, which were
redder than the blood upon the snow appeared to be."

The glowing picture of the young knight starting for
Arthur's court in Kilhivch and Olwen ; the dainty compo-
sition of the maiden Blodeuwedd, who was constructed
by magic out of certain flowers in order to be a bride for
Gwyddion, who was cursed by Arianrod with the curse
that he should never have a wife of the present human
race, — these and many similar bright-colored passages in
the Mabinogion will strike the most cursory reader in
confirmation of the feeling for color alleged. While I am
scarcely prepared to attribute so much weight to any
foreign element as to agree with Mr. Henry Morley in
believing that but for the Keltic influence England would
not have produced a Shakespere ; or with Mr. Matthew
Arnold, that English poetry got nearly all its turn for
catching and rendering the charm of nature in a wonder-
fully near and vivid way, beside possibly other qualities,
from a Keltic source : yet I think we can safely say that
our literature has certainly enriched itself with Bardic
wisdom, has certainly warmed itself with the fire and
color of Keltic fancy, and has perhaps spiritualized its
feeling for nature with that subtle wood-loneliness which
Mr. Arnold calls " the natural magic " of the Kelt.

Introduction. xvii

The Welsh proper names are apt to make such an
uncouth impression upon those unacquainted with their
true sounds, that perhaps the most helpful matter to which
I car. devote the brief remainder of this Introduction is the
pronunciation of Welsh. The following rules, in which
of course all attempt at minute accuracy is sacrificed to
brevity, and only approximate sounds are aimed at, will
at least result in showing such names to be often musical
and pleasing, even to the English ear. The letters which
cause most perplexity are TV, II, y, and ch. Wis usually
sounded like oo in pool, as already explained under the
name "Kilhwch," pronounced Kilhooch ; though where it
precedes a vowel this sound (oo) of course practically
becomes the English consonantal w ; for example, oo-et,
rapidly pronounced, would merge into wet; and so in
" Llywarch " or " Gwyddion," the w before the a or y
may be considered as having simply the force of the Eng-
lish w. Y, if long, is like German «', or French u in
une ; nearly English ee in seen. Y short, much like our
short u, except in the last syllable of words, where it is
more like our short i. LI is like Spanish // in llanos, but
with an aspirated sound made by forcing the breath
through the back teeth so vigorously as to impress the
English ear with the sound of a strongly-lisped s. If the
organs be arranged so as to pronounce the y in yield, and
the sound Hi vigorously forced upon that position, some-
thing like Welsh // results. Ch is guttural, as in Scotch
loch, German ach. The vowels a, e, i, mostly occur in the

xviii Introduction.

following names as short English a, e, i ; o, as long o ;
and u, as a rapidly pronounced French 11. The often
occurring aw is like ou in English our, or German au in
haus. Dd is nearly th in then, only with more of d than
t blended with the h sound. C is always k, Cynon equals
Kynon ; there is no soft c in Welsh. /MS always v ; it is
only ff which sounds like our fin fan. G always hard, as
in get. Th as in English thanks ; never as in then.

All other letters may be sounded as in English. It
is possible, I should add, that even Welshmen may find
theoretical fault with some of these directions ; but they
are given here as very nearly reproducing the practical
impression made upon English ears by actual Welsh
current talk. No one need go outside of his own experi-
ence to discover how greatly the sounds of current dis-
course differ from theoretical methods of pronunciation.

Such is the general sound of the Welsh tongue. It
will be helpful if I add — in view of many books which
are now appearing as results of the fresh interest lately
aroused in old Gaelic language and literature — that the
sounds here given belong to the tongue of that special
division of the Kelts known as the Cymric (pronounced
Kymric) Kelts, in distinction from their neighbors of
ancient Ireland and Scotland, known as the Gsedhilic,
or Gaelic. The derivation of the names " Wales " and
" Welsh " is much disputed, and may be regarded as
unsettled. They are, at any rate, much later than
" Cambria " and " Cymric," which all Welshmen claim

Introduction. xix

to be the true names for their country and nation, build-
ing upon that ancient tradition perpetuated by Geoffrey
of Monmouth, that after the death of Brutus, the original
founder of Britain, his three sons divided the kingdom
between them ; the eldest, Locrinus, taking the part now
known as England, but called after him " Locria " (or,
variously, " Locgria," " Locris," &c.) in all old chronicles ;
the next son, Albanach (Albany), taking the parts north
of the Humber ; and the third son, Camber, taking the part
between the Irish seas and the rivers Severn and Dee,
whence it was called after him, "Cambria," now known
as Wales.

Hence the Welsh now call themselves " Cymru," usually
reproduced in English by "Cymry," and their language
" Cymraec," or " Cymraeg," usually reproduced in English
by " Cymric."

The present work contains nearly all the Mabinogion
originally given ; and, as in the other works of this
series, the original text is scrupulously preserved, ex-
cept occasionally to hasten the long-lagging action of a
story, — in which case the interpolation is always placed
in brackets, — and except where the demands of modern
reserve required excision. An Italicized word in brackets
is always the meaning of the word immediately before it,
as in the Froissart and the King Arthur.

In now leaving this beautiful book with my young
countrymen, I find myself so sure of its charm as to feel

xx Introduction.

no hesitation in taking authority to unite the earnest
expression of their gratitude with that of my own to
Lady Charlotte Guest, whose talents and scholarship have
made these delights possible ; and I can wish my young
readers few pleasures of finer quality than that surprised
sense of a whole new world of possession which came
with my first reading of these Mabinogion, and made
me remember Keats's

"... watcher of the skies
When a new planet swims into his ken."

SIDNEY LANIER.
CAMP ROBIN, N.C., June, 1881.

CONTENTS.

MGI

'IHE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN i

KlLHWCH AND OLWEN ; OR, THE TWRCH TRWYTH . . 40

PEREDUR THE SON OF EVRAWC 91

THE DREAM OF RHONABWY IS1

PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED 169

THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS 198

THE ORIGIN OF THE OWL 209

BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR 223

MANAWYDDAN AND THE MICE. 244

GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN 263

THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG 328

TALIESIN 34°

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

KAI AND HIS COMPANTONS AT THE CASTLE OF THE GlANT

GWRNACH Frontispiece.

THE RECOVERY OF OWAIN 24

KlLHWCH RIDING INTO ARTHUR'S HALL 44

PEREDUR AND THE MAIDEN 107

PEREDUR AND THE CHESSMEN 146

THE ARMY OF RAVENS 164

THE BATTLE OF THE DRAGONS 203

THE FLIGHT OF BLODEUWEDD AND HER MAIDENS . . 220

PRYDERI HELD FAST BY THE ENCHANTED BOWL . . . 252

THE TOURNAMENT OF THE SPARROWHAWK . . . . 281

GERAINT AND THE MAIDEN AT THE EDGE OF THE WOOD . 312

ELPHIN SINGING BEFORE TALIESIN 356

THE BOY'S MABINOGION.

•>» ,

•

THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN*.

*" ,','',

ING ARTHUR was at Caerlleon-upon-Usk; and
one day he sat, nr his chamber, and with him were
Owain I the son of Urien;1 tind Kynon the sofr o'f Clydno,
and Kai the son of Ryner, -and 'GwenhwyVaY 'and her
hand-maidens at needle-work by the "window." And if it
should be said that there was a porter at Arthur's palace,
there was none. Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was there, acting
as porter, to welcome guests and strangers, and to receive
them with honor, and to inform them of the manners and
customs of the court, and to direct those who came to
the hall or to the presence-chamber, and those who came
to take up their lodging.

In the centre of the chamber King Arthur sat upon a
seat of green rushes, over which was spread a covering

of flame-colored satin, and a cushion of red satin was
under his elbow.

1 This " Owain " is Owen, and his father " Urien " is the " King Uriens of Gore "
(Gore is probably Gcvter, in Glamorganshire, Wales), familiar to all the young readeri
of " The Boy's King Arthur."

I

The Boy's Mabinogion.

Then Arthur spoke. " If I thought you would not dis
parage me," said he, " I would sleep while I wait for my
repast ; and you can entertain one another with relating
tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and some meat

from Kai." . . ..... .

• . • •

And tlje "kirfg^ Went to Jsle.ep. So Kai l went to the

kitcherr. 4*m}. f b. the' mead-pelter/ and returned bearing a

• ,' ••°^e * * ** •** *•

flagon -<if;inead, and a goldejh ,g/3.blet, and a handful of

skewers- upon which were broiled -dollops of meat. Then
. »

they, ate the collops, and begajn to djink the mead.

"&ow,"fsaid Kai, "it is time -for you to give me my

'

Owaih,->-lo\thou pay to Kai the tale

that is his-dUe;','/ ;'/

* • * *

"Truly," said Kynori,'"thou art older, and art a better

teller of tales, and hast seen more marvellous things than
I : do thou therefore pay Kai his tale."

"Begin thyself," quoth Owain, "with the best that
thou knowest."

" I will do so," answered Kynon. " I was the only son
of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly aspiring,
and my daring was very great. I thought there was no
enterprise in the world too mighty for me ; and, after I
had achieved all the adventures that were in my own
country, I equipped myself, and set forth to journey
through deserts and distant regions. And at length it

1 This is " Sir Kay the seneschal," who nicknames Beaumains, and figures every-
where in Malory's King Arthur as a cheerful but somewhat hasty-witted knight

The Lady of the Fountain.

chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world,
wherein were trees of equal growth ; and a river ran
through the valley, and a path was by the side of the
river. And I followed the path until mid-day, and con-
tinued my journey along the remainder of the valley until
the evening ; and at the extremity of a plain I came to
a large and lustrous castle, at the foot of which was a
torrent. And I approached the castle ; and there I beheld
two youths with yellow, curling hair, each with a frontlet
of gold upon his head, and clad in a garment of yellow
satin, and they had gold clasps upon their insteps. In
the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung
with the sinews of the stag ; and their arrows had shafts
of the bone of the whale, and were winged with peacock's
feathers ; the shafts also had golden heads. And they
had daggers with blades of gold, and with hilts of the bone
of the whale. And they were shooting their daggers.

" And a little way from them I saw a man in the prime
of life, with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and a
mantle of yellow satin ; and round the top of his mantle
was a band of gold lace. On his feet were shoes of varie-
gated leather, fastened by two bosses of gold. When I
saw him, I went towards him and saluted him ; and such
was his courtesy that he no sooner received my greeting
than he returned it. And he went with me towards the
castle. Now, there were no dwellers in the castle, except
those who were in one hall. And there I saw four and
twenty damsels embroidering satin at a window. And

The Boy's Mabinogion.

this I tell thee, Kai, that the least fair of them was fairer
than the fairest maid thou hast ever beheld in the Island
of Britain ; and the least lovely of them was more lovely
than Gwenhwyvar, the wife of Arthur, when she has
appeared loveliest at the Offering, on the day of the
Nativity, or at the feast of Easter. They rose up at my
coming, and six of them took my horse and divested me
of my armor. And six others took my arms and washed
them in a vessel until they were perfectly bright. And
the third six spread cloths upon the tables and prepared
meat. And the fourth six took off my soiled garments
and placed others upon me ; namely, an under-vest and
a doublet of fine linen, and a robe, and a surcoat, and a
mantle of yellow satin with a broad gold band upon the
mantle. And they placed cushions, both beneath and
around me, with coverings of red linen ; and I sat down.
Now, the six maidens who had taken my horse unhar-
nessed him as well as if they had been the best squires in
the Island of Britain. Then, behold, they brought bowls
of silver wherein was water to wash, and towels of linen,
some green, and some white ; and I washed. And in a
little while the man sat down to the table. And I sat
next to him ; and below me sat all the maidens, except
those who waited on us. And the table was of silver, and
the cloths upon the table were of linen ; and no vessel
was served upon the table that was not either of gold, or
of silver, or of buffalo-horn. And our meat was brought
to us. And verily, Kai, I saw there every sort of meat

The Lady of the Fountain.

and every sort of liquor that I have ever seen elsewhere;
but the meat and the liquor were better served there than
I have ever seen them in any other place.

" Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor
any one of the damsels spoke a single word to me ; but,
when the man perceived that it would be more agreeable
to me to converse than to eat any more, he began to
inquire of me who I was. I said I was glad to find that
there was some one who would discourse with me, and
that it was not considered so great a crime at that court
for people to hold converse together.

"'Chieftain/ said the man, 'we would have talked to
thee sooner, but we feared to disturb thee during thy
repast : now, however, we will discourse.'

"Then I told the man who I was, and what was the
cause of my journey, and said that I was seeking whether
any one was superior to me, or whether I could gain the
mastery over all. The man looked upon me ; and he
smiled, and said, ' If I did not fear to distress thee too
much, I would show thee that which thou seekest.'

" Upon this I became anxious and sorrowful ; and, when
the man perceived it, he said, 'If thou wouldst rather
that I should show thee thy disadvantage than thine ad-
vantage, I will do so. Sleep here to-night, and in the
morning arise early, and take the road upwards through
the valley until thou reachest the wood through which
thou earnest hither. A little way within the wood thou
wilt meet with a road branching off to the right, by which

The Boy's Mabinogion.

thou must proceed until thou comest to a large sheltered
glade with a mound in the centre. And thou wilt see a
black man of great stature on the top of the mound. He
is not smaller in size than two of the men of this world.
He has but one foot, and one eye in the middle of his
forehead. And he has a club of iron ; and it is certain
that there are no two men in the world who would not
find their burden in that club. And he is not a comely
man, but, on the contrary, he is exceedingly ill-favored ;
and he is the woodward of that wood. And thou wilt see
a thousand wild animals grazing around him. Inquire of
him the way out of the glade ; and he will reply to thee
briefly, and will point out the road by which thou shalt
find that which thou art in quest of.'

"And long seemed that night to me. And the next
morning I arose and equipped myself, and mounted my
horse, and proceeded straight through the valley to the
wood ; and I followed the cross-road which the man had
pointed out to me, till at length I arrived at the glade.
And there was I three times more astonished at the num-
ber of wild animals that I beheld than the man had said
I should be. And the black man was there, sitting upon
the top of the mound. Huge of stature as the man had
told me that he was, I found him to exceed by far the
description he had given me of him. As for the iron
club which the man had told me was a burden for two
men, I am certain, Kai, that it would be a heavy weight
for four warriors to lift ; and this was in the black man's

The Lady of the Fountain.

hand. And he only spoke to me in answer to my ques
tions. Then I asked him what power he held over those
animals.

" ' I will show thee, little man,' said he.

"And he took his club in his hand, and with it he
struck a stag a great blow, so that he brayed vehe-
mently ; and at his braying the animals came together, as
numerous as the stars in the sky, so that it was difficult
for me to find room in the glade to stand among them.
There were serpents, and dragons, and divers sorts of
animals. And he looked at them, and bade them go and
feed ; and they bowed their heads, and did him homage as
vassals to their lord.

"Then the black man said to me, 'Seest thou now,
little man, what power I hold over these animals ? '

" Then I inquired of him the way, and he became very
rough in his manner to me : however, he asked me whither
I would go. And when I told him who I was, and what I
sought, he directed me.

"'Take,' said he, 'that path that leads towards the
head of the glade, and ascend the wooded steep until
thou comest to its summit ; and there thou wilt find an
open space like to a large valley, and in the midst of it
a tall tree, whose branches are greener than the green-
est pine-trees. Under this tree is a fountain, and by the
side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab
a silver bowl attached by a chain of silver so that it may
not be carried away. Take the bowl and throw a bowlful

8 The Boy's Mabinogion.

of water upon the slab, and thou wilt hear a mighty peal
of thunder, sc that thou wilt think that heaven and earth
are trembling with its fury. With the thunder there will
come a shower so severe, that it will be scarce possible
for thee to endure it and live. And the shower will be of
hailstones ; and after the shower the weather will become
fair, but every leaf that was upon the tree will have been
carried away by the shower. Then a flight of birds will
come and alight upon the tree ; and in thine own country
thou didst never hear a strain so sweet as that which they
will sing. And, at the moment thou art most delighted
with the song of the birds, thou wilt hear a murmuring
and complaining coming towards thee along the valley.
And thou wilt see a knight upon a coal-black horse,
clothed in black velvet, and with a pennon of black linen
upon his lance ; and he will ride unto thee to encounter
thee with the utmost speed. If thou fleest from him, he
will overtake thee ; and, if thou abidest there, as sure as
thou art a mounted knight he will leave thee on foot.
And if thou dost not find trouble in that adventure thou
needest not seek it during the rest of thy life.'

"So I journeyed on until I reached the summit of the
steep, and there I found every thing as the black man had
described it to me. And I went up to the tree, and
beneath it I saw the fountain, and by its side the marble
slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the chain. Then I
took the bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab ;
and thereupon behold, the thunder came, much more

The Lady of the Fountain.

violent th^n the black man had led me to expect. And
after the thunder came the shower : and of a truth I tell
thee, Kai, that there is neither man nor beast that could
endure that shower and live ; for not one of those hail-
stones would be stopped, either by the flesh or by the
skin, until it had reached the bone. I turned my horse's
flank towards the shower, and placed the beak of my
shield over his head and neck, while I held the upper
part of it over my own head. And thus I withstood the
shower. When I looked on the tree, there was not a
single leaf upon it ; and then the sky became clear, and
with that, behold the birds lighted upon the tree, and sang.
And truly, Kai, I never heard any melody equal to that,
either before or since. And, when I was most charmed
with listening to the birds, lo, a murmuring voice was
heard through the valley, approaching me, and saying,
' O knight ! what has brought thee hither ? What evil
have I done to thee, that thou shouldst act towards me
and my possessions as thou hast this day? Dost thou
not know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions
neither man nor beast alive that was exposed to it ? '

"And thereupon, behold, a knight on a black horse
appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, and with a tabard of
black linen about him. And we charged each other ; and,
as the onset was furious, it was not long before I was
overthrown. Then the knight passed the shaft of his
lance through the bridle-rein of my horse, and rode off
with the two horses, leaving me where I was. And he

to The Boy's Mabinogion.

did not even bestow so much notice upon me as to im-
prison me, nor did he despoil me of my arms. So I re-
turned along the road by which I had come. And, when
I reached the glade where the black m^n was, I confess
to thee, Kai, it is a marvel that I did not melt down into
a liquid pool, through the shame that I felt at the black
man's derision. And that night I came to the same castle
where I had spent the night preceding. And I was more
agreeably entertained that night than I had been the
night before ; and I was better feasted, and I conversed
freely with the inmates of the castle, and none of them
alluded to my expedition to the fountain, neither did I
mention it to any ; and I remained there that night.
When I arose on the morrow, I found ready saddled a
dark-bay palfrey, with nostrils as red as scarlet ; and, after
putting on my armor and leaving there my blessing, I
returned to my own court. And that horse I still possess,
and he is in the stable yonder ; and I declare that I would
not part with him for the best palfrey in the Island of
Britain.

" Now of a truth, Kai, no man ever before confessed to
an adventure so much to his own discredit ; and verily
it seems strange to me that neither before nor since have
I heard of any person besides myself who knew of this
adventure, and that the subject of it should exist within
King Arthur's dominions without any other person light-
ing upon it."

" Now," quoth Owain, " would it not be well to go and
endeavor to discover that place ? "

The Lady of the Fountain. 1 1

" By the hand of my friend," said Kai, " often dost thou
utter that with thy tongue which thou wouldst not make
good with thy deeds."

" In very truth," said Gwenhwyvar, " it were better thou
wert hanged, Kai, than to use such uncourteous speech
towards a man like Owain."

" By the hand of my friend, good lady," said Kai, " thy
praise of Owain is not greater than mine."

With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been
sleeping a little.

"Yes, lord," answered Owain, "thou hast slept a while."

" Is it time for us to go to meat ? "

" It is, lord," said Owain.

Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the king
and all his household sat down to eat. And when the
meal was ended Owain withdrew to his lodging and made
ready his horse and his arms.

On the morrow, with the dawn of day, he put on his
armor, and mounted his charger, and travelled through
distant lands and over desert mountains. And at length
he arrived at the valley which Kynon had described to
him ; and he was certain that it was the same that he
sought. And, journeying along the valley by the side of
the river, he followed its course till he came to the plain
and within sight of the castle. When he approached the
castle, he saw the youths shooting their daggers in the
place where Kynon had seen them, and the yellcw man,
to whom the castle belonged, standing hard by. And no

12 The Boy's Mabinogion.

sooner had Owain saluted the yellow man than he was
saluted by him in return.

And he went forward towards the castle, and there he
saw the chamber ; and when he had entered the chamber
he beheld the maidens working at satin embroidery, in
chairs of gold. And their beauty and their comeliness
seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon had represented
to him. And they arose to wait upon Owain, as they had
done to Kynon ; and the meal which they set before him
gave more satisfaction to Owain than it had done to
Kynon.

About the middle of the repast, the yellow man asked
Owain the object of his journey. And Owain made it
known to him, and said, " I am in quest of the knight
who guards the fountain."

Upon this the yellow man smiled, and said that he was
as loth to point out that adventure to Owain as he had
been to Kynon However, he described the whole to
Owain, and they retired to rest.

The next morning Owain found his horse made ready
for him by the damsels ; and he set forward, and came to
the glade where the black man was. And the stature of
the black man seemed more wonderful to Owain than it
had done to Kynon ; and Owain asked of him his road,
and he showed it to him. And Owain followed the road,
as Kynon had done, till he came to the green tree ; a/id
he beheld the fountain, and the slab beside the fountain
with the bowl upon it. And Owain took the bowl, and

The Lady of the Fountain.

threw a bowlful of water upon the slab. And, lo, the
thunder was heard ; and after the thunder came the shower,
much more violent than Kynon had described ; and after
the shower the sky became bright. And when Owain
looked at the tree there was not one leaf upon it. And
immediately the birds came, and settled upon the tree,
and sang. And, when their song was most pleasing to
Owain, he beheld a knight coming towards him through
the valley ; and he prepared to receive him and encoun-
tered him violently. Having broken both their lances,
they drew their swords and fought blade to blade. Then
Owain struck the knight a blow through his helmet, head-
piece, and visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and
the bone, until it wounded the very brain. Then the
black knight felt that he had received a mortal wound,
upon which he turned his horse's head and fled. And
Owain pursued him, and followed close upon him, although
he was not near enough to strike him with his sword.
Thereupon Owain descried a vast and resplendent castle.
And they came to the castle-gate. And the black knight
was allowed to enter, and the portcullis was let fall upon
Owain ; and it struck his horse behind the saddle, and cut
him in two and carried away the rowels of the spurs that
were upon Owain's heels. And the portcullis descended
to the floor. And the rowels of the spurs and part of the
horse were without ; and Owain, with the other part of
the horse, remained between the two gates, and the inner
gate was closed, so that Owain could not go thence ; and

14 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Owain was in a perplexing situation. And, while he was
in this state, he could see through an aperture in the
gate a street facing him, with a row of houses on each
side. And he beheld a maiden, with yellow curling hair,
and a frontlet of gold upon her head ; and she was clad in
a dress of yellow satin, and on her feet were shoes of
variegated leather. And she approached the gate, and
desired that it should be opened.

" Heaven knows, lady," said Owain, "it is no more pos-
sible for me to open to thee from hence than it is for thee
to set me free."

"Truly," said the damsel, "it is very sad that thou
canst not be released, and every woman ought to succor
thee ; for I never saw one more faithful in the sendee of
ladies than thou. As a friend thou art the most sincere,
and as a lover the most devoted. Therefore," quoth she,
" whatever is in my power to do for thy release, I will do
it. Take this ring, and put it on thy finger with the stone
inside thy hand, and close thy hand upon the stone. And
as long as thou concealest it it will conceal thee. When
they have consulted together, they will come forth to fetch
thee in order to put thee to death ; and they will be much
grieved that they cannot find thee. And I will await thee
on the horseblock yonder ; and thou wilt be able to see
me, though I cannot see thee : therefore come and place
thy hand upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou
art near me. And by the way that I go hence do thou
accompany me."

The Lady of the Fountain. 15

Then she went away from Owain, and he did all that
the maiden had told him. And the people of the castle
came to s-eek Owain to put him to death ; and, when they
found nothing but the half of his horse, they were sorely
grieved.

And Owain vanished from among them, and went to
the maiden, and placed his hand upon her shoulder ; where-
upon she set off. And Owain followed her until they
came to the door of a large and beautiful chamber ; and
the maiden opened it, and they went in and closed the
door. And Owain looked around the chamber ; and be-
hold there was not even a single nail in it that was not
painted with gorgeous colors ; and there was not a single
panel that had not sundry images in gold portrayed upon
it.

The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver
bowl, and put a towel of white linen on her shoulder, and
gave Owain water to wash. Then she placed before him
a silver table inlaid with gold, upon which was a cloth of
yellow linen, and she brought him food. And of a truth
Owain had never seen any kind of meat that was not there
in abundance ; but it was better cooked there than he had
ever found it in any other place. Nor did he ever see so
excellent a display of meat and drink as there. And there
was not one vessel from which he was served that "/as
not of gold or of silver. And Owain ate and drank until
late in the afternoon, when, lo, they heard a mighty clamor
in the castle. And Owain asked the maiden what that
outcry was.

1 6 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" They are administering extreme unction," l said she,
" to the nobleman who owns the castle."

And Owain went to sleep.

And a little after daybreak they heard an exceeding
Icud clamor and wailing. And Owain asked the maiden
what was the cause of it.

" They are bearing to the church the body of the noble-
man who owned the castle."

And Owain rose up and clothed himself, and opened a
window of the chamber, and looked towards the castle.
And he could see neither the bounds nor the extent of the
hosts that filled the streets. And they were fully armed.
And a vast number of women were with them, both on
horseback and on foot ; and all the ecclesiastics in the
city, singing. And it seemed to Owain that the sky re-
sounded with the vehemence of their cries, and with the
noise of the trumpets, and with the singing of the eccle-
siastics. In the midst of the throng he beheld the bier,
over which was a veil of white linen ; and wax tapers were
burning beside and around it, and none that supported the
bier was lower in rank than a powerful baron.

Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with
satin and silk and sendal. And following the train he
beheld a lady, with yellow hair falling over her shoulders,
and stained with blood, and about her a dress of yellow
satin, wh ch was torn. Upon her feet were shoes of varie-
gated lea :her. And it was a marvel that the ends of her

1 The last rite of the church to a dying person.

The Lady of the Fountain. 1 7

fingers were not bruised, from the violence with which she
smote her hands together. Truly she would have been
the fairest lady Owain ever saw, had she been in her usual
guise. And her cry was louder than the shout of the men
or the clamor of the trumpets. No sooner had he beheld
the lady than he became inflamed with her love, so that
it took entire possession of him.

Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was.

" Heaven knows," replied the maiden, " she may be said
to be the fairest, and the most chaste, and the most liberal,
and the wisest, and the most noble, of women ; and she
is my mistress. And she is called the ' Countess of the
Fountain,' the wife of him whom thou didst slay yesterday."

"Verily," said Owain, "she is the woman that I love
best."

" Verily," said the maiden, " she shall also love thee not
a little."

And with that the maid arose, and kindled a fire, and
filled a pot with water and placed it to warm ; and she
brought a towel of white linen and placed it around
Owain's neck ; and she took a goblet of ivory and a silver
basin, and filled them with warm water, wherewith she
washed Owain's head. Then she opened a wooden casket
and drew forth a razor whose haft was of ivory, and upon
which were two rivets of gold. And she shaved his beard
and she dried his head and his throat with the towel.
Then she rose up from before Owain, and brought him
to eat. And truly Owain had never so good a meal, nor
was he ever so well served.

1 8 The Boy's Mabinogion.

When he had finished his repast, the maiden arranged
his couch.

"Come here," said she, "and sleep, and I will go and
woo for thee."

And Owain went to sleep ; and the maiden shut the
door of the chamber after her, and went towards the
castle. When she came there, she found nothing but
mourning and sorrow ; and the countess in her chamber
could not bear the sight of any one through grief. Luned
came and saluted her ; but the countess answered her
not. And the maiden bent down towards her, and said,
"What aileth thee, that thou answerest no one to-day ? "

"Luned," said the countess, "what change hath befallen
thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my grief ? It
was wrong in thee, and I having made thee rich — it was
wrong in thee that thou didst not come to see me in my
distress. That was wrong in thee. As it is, I will banish
thee."

"I am glad," said Luned, "that thou hast no other
cause to do so than that I would have been of service to
thee where thou didst not know what was to thine advan-
tage. And henceforth evil betide whichever of us shall
make the first advance towards reconciliation to the other ;
whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou of
thine own accord shouldst send to invite me."

With that Luned went forth. And the countess arose,
and followed her to the door of the chamber, and began
coughing loudly. And, when Luned looked back, the

The Lady of the Fountain. 19

xmntess beckoned to her, and she returned to the
countess.

" In truth," said the countess, " evil is thy disposition ;
but, if thou knowest what is to my advantage, declare it tc

me."

" I will do so," quoth she.

" Thou knowest that except by warfare and arms it is
impossible for thee to preserve thy possessions. Delay
not, therefore, to seek some one who can defend them."

"And how can I do that ? " said the countess.

"I will tell thee," said Luned. "Unless thou canst
defend the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy domin-
ions ; and no one can defend the fountain, except it be a
knight of Arthur's household. And I will go to Arthur's
court ; and ill betide me if I return thence without a war-
rior who can guard the fountain as well as, or even better
than, he who defended it formerly."

"That will be hard to perform," said the countess.
" Go, however, and make proof of that which thou hast
promised."

Luned set out, under the pretence of going to Arthur's
court ; but she went back to the chamber where she had
left Owain. And she tarried there with him as long as it
might have taken her to have travelled to the court of
King Arthur. And at the end of that time she apparelled
herself, and went to visit the countess. And the countess
was much rejoiced when she saw her,, and inqu'red what
news she brought from the court

2O The Boy's Mabinogion.

"I bring thee the best of news," said Limed, "for I
have compassed the object of my mission. When wilt
thou that I should present to thee the chieftain who has
come with me hither ? "

"Bring him here to visit me to-morrow at mid-day."
said the countess, "and I will cause the town to be
assembled by that time."

And Luned returned home. And the next day, at
noon, Owain arrayed himself in a coat and a surcoat
and a mantle of yellow satin upon which was a broad
band of gold lace ; and on his feet were high shoes of
variegated leather, which were fastened by golden clasps
in the form of lions. And they proceeded to the chamber
of the countess.

Right glad was the countess of their coming, and she
gazed steadfastly upon Owain, and said, "Luned, this
knight has not the look of a traveller."

" What harm is there in that, lady ? " said Luned.

"I am certain," said the countess, "that no other man
than this chased the soul from the body of my lord."

"So much the better for thee, lady," said Luned; "for,
had he not been stronger than thy lord, he could not have
deprived him of life. There is no remedy for that which
is past, be it as it may."

"Go back to thine abode," said the countess, "and I
will take counsel."

The next day the cruntess caused all her subjects to
assemble, and showed them that her earldom was left

The Lady of the Fountain. 21

defenceless, and that it could not be protected but with
horse and arms, and military skill.

"Therefore," said she, "this is what I offer for your
choice : either let one of you take me, or give your con-
sent for me to take a husband from elsewhere to defend
my dominions."

So they came to the determination that it was better
that she should have permission to marry some one from
elsewhere. And thereupon she sent for the bishops and
archbishops to celebrate her nuptials with Owain. And
the men of the earldom did Owain homage.

And Owain defended the fountain with lance and sword.
And this is the manner in which he defended it : whenso-
ever a knight came there, he overthrew him and sold him
for his full worth, and what he thus gained he divided
among his barons and his knights ; and no man in the
whole world could be more beloved than he was by his
subjects. And it was thus for the space of three years.

It befell that as Gwalchmai I went forth one day with
King Arthur he perceived him to be very sad and sorrow-

1 This Gwalchmai — a name which in Old British means Hawk of Battle — is
our old friend " Sir Gawaine " of The Boy 's King Arthur. The French roman-
cers appear to have transformed his name from the old legendary "Gwalchmai" to
"Gawaine." He was noted in Welsh poetry as one of the three golden-tongued
knights of Arthur's court whose persuasions none could resist ; and this may account
for the strange subjection of Arthur to his influence in leading the king, against the
king's will and des'\re, to war upon Sit Launcelot during those last days described in
Sir Thomas Malory's book.

22 The Boy's Mabinogion.

ful. And Gwalchmai was much grieved to see Arthur in
this state, and he questioned him, saying, " Oh, rny lord .'
what has befallen thee ? "

"In sooth, Gwalchmai," said Arthur, "I am grieved
concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three years ;
and I shall certainly die if the fourth year passes without
my seeing him. Now I am sure that it is through the
tale which Kynon, the son of Clydno, related, that I have
lost Owain."

"There is no need for thee," said Gwalchmai, "to sum-
mon to arms thy whole dominions on this account ; for
thou thyself and the men of thy household will be able to
avenge Owain if he be slain, or to set him free if he be in
prison, and if alive to bring him back with thee." And
it was settled according to what Gwalchmai had said.

Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to
go and seek Owain ; and their number was three thousand,
besides their attendants. And Kynon, the son of Clydno,
acted as their guide. And Arthur came to the castle where
Kynon had been before ; and when he came there the
youths were shooting in the same place, and the yellow
man was standing hard by. When the yellow man saw
Arthur, he greeted him and invited him to the castle.
And Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered
the castle together. And, great as was the r umber of
his retinue, their presence was scarcely observed in the
castle, so vast was its extent. And the maidens rose
up to wait on them ; and the service of the maidens

The Lady of the Fountain. 23

appeared to them all to excel any attendance they had
ever met with ; and even the pages who had charge of
the horses were no worse served that night than Arthur
himself would have been in his own palace.

The next morning, Arthur set out thence with Kynon
for his guide, and came to the place where the black man
was. And the stature of the black man was more sur-
prising to Arthur than it had been represented to him.
And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and trav-
ersed the valley till they reached the green tree, where
they saw the fountain, and the bowl, and the slab. And
upon that Kai came to Arthur, and spoke to him.

"My lord," said he, "I know the meaning of all this;
and my request is that thou wilt permit me to throw the
water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure that
may befall."

And Arthur gave him leave.

Then Kai threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and
immediately there came the thunder, and after the thun-
der the shower. And such a thunderstorm they had
never known before, and many of the attendants who
were in Arthur's train were killed by the shower. After
the shower had ceased the sky became clear, and on look-
ing at the tree they beheld it completely leafless. Then
the birds descended upon the tree ; and the song of the
birds was far sweeter than any strain they had ever heard
before. Then they beheld a knight on a coal-black horse,
clothed in black satin, coming rapidly towards them. And

24 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Kai met hiri and encountered him, and it was not long
before Kai was overthrown. And the knight withdrew,
and Arthur and his host encamped for the night.

And when they arose in the morning they perceived
the signal of combat upon the lance of the knight. And
Kai came to Arthur and spoke to him.

"My lord," said he, "though I was overthrown yester
day, if it seem good to thee I would gladly meet the
knight again to-day."

"Thou mayst do so," said Arthur.

And Kai went towards the knight. And on the spot
he overthrew Kai, and struck him with the head of his
lance in the forehead, so that it broke his helmet and the
headpiece, and pierced the skin and the flesh the breadth
of the spear-head, even to the bone. And Kai returned
to his companions.

After this, all the household of Arthur went forth one
after the other to combat the knight, until there was not
one that was not overthrown by him except Arthur and
Gwalchmai. And Arthur armed himself to encounter the
knight.

"Oh, my lord!" said Gwalchmai, "permit me to fight
with him first."

And Arthur permitted him. And he went forth to meet
the knight, having over himself and his horse a satin robe
of honor which had been sent him by the daughter of the
Earl of R langyw ; and in this dress he was not known by
any of the host. And they charged each other, and fought

The Lady of the Fountain. 25

all that day until the evening ; and neither of them was
able to unhorse the other.

The next day they fought with strong lances, and
neither of them could obtain the mastery.

And the third day they fought with exceeding strong
lances. And they were incensed with rage, and fought
furiously, even until noon. And they gave each other
such a shock that the girths of their horses were broken,
so that they fell over their horses' cruppers to the ground
And they rose up speedily and drew their swords and
resumed the combat. And the multitude that witnessed
their encounter felt assured that they had never before
seen two men so valiant or so powerful. And, had it been
midnight, it would have been light from the fire that flashed
from their weapons. And the knight gave Gwalchmai
a blow that turned his helmet from off his face, so that
the knight knew that it was Gwalchmai. Then Owain
said, " My lord Gwalchmai, I did not know thee for my
cousin, owing to the robe of honor that enveloped thee
Take my sword and my arms."

Said Gwalchmai, " Thou, Owain, art the victor. Take
thou my sword."

And with that Arthur saw that they were conversing,
and advanced towards them.

"My lord Arthur," said Gwalchmai, "here is Owain,
who has vanquished me and will not take my arms."

" My lord," said Owain, " it is he that has vanquished
me and he will not take my sword."

26 The Boy's Mabinogion.

"Give me your swords," said Arthur, "and then neither
of you has vanquished the other."

Then Owain put his arms around Arthur's neck, and
they embraced. And all the host hurried forward to see
Owain, and to embrace him ; and there was nigh being a
loss of life, so great was the press.

And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur
prepared to depart.

"My lord," said Owain, "this is not well of thee ; for
I have been absent from thee these three years, and during
all that time, up to this very day, I have been preparing
a banquet for thee, knowing that thou wouldst come to
seek me. Tarry with me, therefore, until thou and thy
attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey and
have been anointed."

And they all proceeded to the castle of the Countess of
the Fountain. And the banquet which had been three
years preparing was consumed in three months. Never
had the}' a more delicious or agreeable banquet. And
Arthur prepared to depart. Then he sent an embassy to
the countess, [beseeching] her to permit Owain to go with
him for the space of three months, that he might show
him to the nobles and the fair dames of the Island of
Britain. And the countess gave her consent, although it
was very painful to her. So Owain came with Arthur to
the Island of Britain. And, when he was once more
amongst his kindred and friends, he remained three years,
instead of three months, with them.

The Lady of the Fountain. 2 7

And, as Owain one day sat at meat in the city of Caer-
lleon-upon-Usk, behold a damsel entered, upon a bay horse
with a curling mane and covered with foam ; and the bridle
and so much as was seen of the saddle were of gold.
And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin.
Anc she came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his
hand.

" Thus," said she, " shall be treated the deceiver, the
traitor, the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless."

And she turned her horse's head, and departed.

Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and
he was sorrowful ; and, having finished eating, he went to
his own abode and made preparations that night. And the
next day he arose, [yet] did not go to the court, but wan
dered to the distant parts of the earth and to uncultivated
mountains. And he remained there until all his apparel
was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair
was grown long. And he went about with the wild beasts,
and fed with them, until they became familiar with him.
But at length he grew so weaR that he could no longer
bear them company. Then he descended from the moun-
tains to the valley, and came to a park that was the fairest
in the world and belonged to a widowed countess.

One day the countess and her maidens went forth to
walk by a lake that was in the middle of the park ; and
they saw the form of a man. And they were terrified.
Nevertheless, they went near him, and touched him, and
looked at him. And they saw that there was life in him,

28 The Boy's Mabinogion.

though he was exhausted by the heat of the sun. And
the countess returned to the castle, and took a flask full
of precious ointment and gave it to one of her maidens.

"Go with this," said she, "and take with thee yonder
horse and clothing, and place them near the man we saw
just now. And anoint him with this balsam, near his
heart ; and if there is life in him he will arise through the
efficacy of this balsam. Then watch what he will do."

And the maiden departed from her, and poured the whole
of the balsam upon Owain, and left the horse and the
garments hard by, and went a little way off and hid her-
self to watch him. In a short time she saw him begin to
move his arms. And he rose up and looked at his person,
and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appear-
ance. Then he perceived the horse and the garments
that were near him. And he crept forward till he was
able to draw the garments to him from off the saddle.
And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted the
horse. Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and
saluted him. And he was rejoiced when he saw her, and
inquired of her what land and what territory that was.

"Truly," said the maiden, "a widowed countess owns
yonder castle. At the death of her husband he left her
two earldoms; but at this day she has [only] this one
dwelling that has not been wrested from her by a young
earl who is her neighbor, because she refused to become
his wife."

"That is pity," said Owain.

The Lady of the Fountain. 29

And he and the maiden proceeded to the castle. And
he alighted there ; and the maiden conducted him to a
pleasant chamber, and kindled a fire, and left him.

And the maiden came to the countess, and gave the
flask into her hand.

" Ha, maiden ! " said the countess, " where is all the
balsam?"

" Have I not used it all ? " said she.

"Oh, maiden!" said the countess, "I cannot easily for-
give thee this. It is sad for me to have wasted seven-
score pounds' worth of precious ointment upon a stranger
whom I know not. However, maiden, wait thou upon him
until he is quite recovered."

And the maiden did so, and furnished him with meat
and drink and fire and lodging and medicaments until
he was well again. And in three months he was restored
to his former guise, and became even more comely than
be had ever been before.

One day Owain heard a great tumult and a sound of
arms in the castle, and he inquired of the maiden the
cause thereof.

" The earl," said she, " whom I mentioned to thee, has
come before the castle with a numerous army, to subdue
the countess."

And Owain inquired of her whether the countess had
a horse and arms in her possession.

" She has the best in the world," said the maiden.

"Wilt thou go and request the loan of a horse and

30 The Boy's Mabinogion.

arms for me," said Owain, "that I may go and look at
this army ? "

" I will," said the maiden.

And she came to the countess, and told her what Owain
had said. And the countess laughed.

"Truly," said she, "I will even give him a horse and
arms forever — such a horse and such arms had he never
yet. And I am glad that they should be taken by him
to-day, lest my enemies should have them against my
will to-morrow. Yet I know not what he would do with
them."

The countess bade them bring out a beautiful black
steed upon which was a beechen saddle, and a suit of
armor for man and horse. And Owain armed himself,
and mounted the horse and went forth, attended by two
pages completely equipped with horses and arms. And,
when they came near to the earl's army, they could see
neither its extent nor its extremity. And Owain asked
the pages in which troop the earl was.

" In yonder troop," said they, "in which are four yellow
standards : two of them are before, and two behind,
him."

" Now," said Owain, " do you return, and await me near
the portal of the castle."

So they returned ; and Owain pressed forward until he
met the earl. And Owain drew him completely out of
his saddle and turned his horse's head towards the castle,
and, though it was with difficulty, he brought the earl to

The Lady of the Fountain. 3 1

the portal, where the pages awaited him. And in they
came. And Owain presented the earl as a gift to the
countess, and said to her, " Behold a requital to thee for
thy blessed balsam."

The army encamped around the castle. And the earl
restored to the countess the two earldoms he had taken
from her, as a ransom for his life ; and for his freedom he
gave her the half of his own dominions, and all his gold
and his silver and his jewels, besides hostages.

And Owain took his departure. And the countess
and all her subjects besought him to remain ; but Owain
chose rather to wander through distant lands and des-
erts.

And as he journeyed he heard a loud yelling in a wood.
And it was repeated a second and a third time. And
Owain went towards the spot, and beheld a huge craggy
mound in the middle of the wood, on the side of which
was a gray rock. And there was a cleft in the rock,
and a serpent was within the cleft. And near the rock
stood a black lion ; and every time the lion sought to go
thence the serpent darted towards him to attack him.
And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew near to the
rock ; and, as the serpent sprang out, he struck him with
his sword and cut him in two. And he dried his sword,
and went on his way as before. But, behold, the lion
followed him and played about him as though it had been
a greyhound that he had reared.

They proceeded thus throughout the day until the eveiv

32 TLe Boy's Mabinogion.

ing. And when it was time for Owain to take his rest
he dismounted, and turned his horse loose in a flat and
wooded meadow. And he struck fire, and when the fire
was kindled the lion brought him fuel enough to last for
three nights. And the lion disappeared. And presently
the lion returned, bearing a fine large roebuck. And he
threw it down before Owain, who went towards the fire
with it.

And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and
placed collops of its flesh upon skewers around the fire.
The rest of the buck he gave to the lion to devour.
While he was doing this, he heard a deep sigh near him,
and a second, and a third. And Owain called out to
know whether the sigh he heard proceeded from a mortal,
and he received answer that it did.

" Who art thou ? " said Owain.

" Truly," said the voice, " I am Luned, the handmaiden
of the Countess of the Fountain."

"And what dost thou here?" said Owain.

" I am imprisoned," said she, " on account of the knight
who came from Arthur's court and married the countess.
And he staid a short time with her ; but he afterwards
departed for the court of Arthur, and has not returned
since. And he was the friend I loved best in the world.
And two of the pages in the countess' chamber traduced
him, and called him a deceiver. And I told them that
they two were not a match for him alone. So they im-
prisoned me in the stone vault, and said that I should be

The Lady of the Fountain. 33

put to death unless he came himself to deliver me by a
certain day ; and that is no further off than the day after
to-morrow. And I have no one to send to seek him for
me. And his name is Owain, the son of Urien."

" And art thou certain that if that knight knew all this
he would come to thy rescue ? "

" I am most certain of it," said she.
When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into
two parts, between himself and the maiden ; and after they
had eaten they talked together until the day dawned.
And the next morning Owain inquired of the damsel if
there was any place where he could get food and enter-
tainment for that night.

"There is, lord," said she. "Cross over yonder and
go along the side of the river, and in a short time thou
wilt see a great castle in which are many towers ; and the
earl who owns that castle is the most hospitable man in
the world. There thou mayst spend the night."

Never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord
than the lion that night over Owain.

And Owain accoutred his horse, and passed across by
the ford, and came in sight of the castle. And he entered
it, and was honorably received. And his horse was well
cared for, and plenty of fodder was placed before him.
Then the lion went and laid down in the horse's manger ;
so that none of the people of the castle dared to approach
him. The treatment which Owain met with there was
such as he had never known elsewhere ; for every one was

34 The Boy's Mabinogion.

as sorrowful as though death had been upon him. And
they went to meat ; and the earl sat upon one side of
Owain, and on the other side his only daughter. And
Owain had never seen any more lovely than she. Then
the lion came and placed himself between Owain's feet,
and he fed him with every kind of food that he took him-
self. And he never saw any thing equal to the sadness
of the people.

In the middle of the repast the earl began to bid Owain
welcome.

Then said Owain, "Behold, it is time for thee to be
cheerful."

" Heaven knows," said the earl, " that it is not thy com-
ing that makes us sorrowful ; but we have cause enough
for sadness and care."

" What is that ? " said Owain.

" I have two sons," replied the earl, " and yesterday
they went to the mountains to hunt. Now, there is on
the mountain a monster who kills men and devours them ;
and he seized my sons. And to-morrow is the time he has
fixed to be here ; and he threatens that he will then slay
my sons before my eyes unless I will deliver into his
hands this my daughter. He has the form of a man ; but
in stature he is no less than a giant."

" Truly," said Owain, " that is lamentable. And which
wilt thou do ? "

" Heaven knows," said the earl, " it will be better that
my sons should be slain against my will than that I should

The Lady of the Fountain. 35

voluntarily give up my daughter to him to ill-treat and
destroy."

Then they talked about other things ; and Owain staid
there that night.

The next morning they heard an exceeding great clam-
or, which was caused by the coming of the giant with the
two youths. And the earl was anxious both to protect
his castle, and to release his two sons. Then Owain put
on his armor, and went forth to encounter the giant. And
the lion followed him. And, when the giant saw that
Owain was armed, he rushed towards him and attacked
him. And the lion fought with the giant much more
fiercely than Owain did.

" Truly," said the giant, " I should find no difficulty in
fighting with thee, were it not for the animal that is with
thee."

Upon that, Owain took the lion back to the castle and
shut the gate upon him ; and then he returned to fight
the giant as before. And the lion roared very loud, for
he heard that it went hard with Owain. And he climbed
up till he reached the top of the earl's hall, and thence
he got to the top of the castle ; and he sprang down from
the walls, and went and joined Owain. And the lion gave
the giant a stroke with his paw which tore him from his
shoulder to his hip, and his heart was laid bare. And the
giant fell down dead. Then Owain restored the two
youths to their father.

The earl besought Owain to remain with him ; and he

36 The Boy's Mabinogion.

would not, but set forward towards the meadow where
Luned was. And when he came there he saw a great
fire kindled, and two youths with beautiful curling auburn
hair were leading the maiden to cast her into the fire.
And Owain asked them what charge they had against her,
And they told him of the compact that was between them,
as the maiden had done the night before.

" And," said they, " Owain has failed her : therefore we
are taking her to be burnt."

"Truly," said Owain, "he is a good knight; and if he
knew that the maiden was in such peril I marvel that he
came not to her rescue. But, if you will accept me in his
stead, I will do battle with you."

"We will," said the youths.

And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by
them. And with that the lion came to Owain's assist-
ance, and they two got the better of the young men.
And they said to him, "Chieftain, it was not agreed
that we should fight, save with thyself alone ; and it is
harder for us to contend with yonder animal than with
thee."

And Owain put the lion in the place where the maiden
had been imprisoned, and blocked up the door with stories ;
and he went to fight with the young men as before. But
Owain had not his usual strength, and the two youths
pressed hard upon him. And the lion roared incessantly
at seeing Owain in trouble. And he burst through the
wall until he found i way out, and rushed upon the yoi ng

The Lady of the Fountain. 37

men, and instantly slew them. So Luned was saved from
being burned.

Then Owain returned with Luned to the dominions of
the Countess of the Fountain. And when he went thence
he took the countess with him to Arthur's court, and she
was his wife as long as she lived.

And then he took the road that led to the court of the
savage black man, and Owain fought with him ; and the
lion did not quit Owain until he had vanquished him.
And when he reached the court of the savage black man
he entered the hall, and beheld four and twenty ladies,
the fairest that could be seen. And the garments which
they had on were not worth four and twenty pence,
and they were as sorrowful as death. And Owain asked
them the cause of their sadness. And they said, " We are
the daughters of earls, and we all came here with our
husbands, whom we dearly loved. And we were received
with honor and rejoicing. And we were thrown into a
state of stupor ; and, while we were thus, the demon who
owns this castle slew all our husbands, and took from us
our horses and our raiment and our gold and our silver.
And the corpses of our husbands are still in this house,
and many others with them. And this, chieftain, is the
cause of our grief ; and we are sorry that thou art come
hither, lest harm should befall thee."

A id Owain was grieved when he heard this. And he
went forth from the castle, and he beheld a knight ap-

38 T/ie Boy's Mabinogion.

preaching him, who saluted him in a friendly and cheerful
manner as if he had been a brother. And this was the
savage black man.

"In very sooth," said Owain, "it is not to seek thy
friendship that I am here."

" In sooth," said he, " thou shalt not find it then."

And with that they charged each other, and fought
furiously. And Owain overcame him, and bound his
hands behind his back. Then the black savage besought
Owain to spare his life, and spoke thus : " My lord
Owain," said he, " it was foretold that thou shouldst come
hither and vanquish me ; and thou hast done so. I was
a robber here, and my house was a house of spoil ; but
grant me my life, and I will become the keeper of an
hospice, and I will maintain this house as an hospice for
weak and for strong as long as I live, for the good of thy
soul."

And Owain accepted this proposal of him, and remained
there that night.

And the next day he took the four and twenty ladies
and their horses and their raiment and what they pos-
sessed of goods and jewels, and proceeded with them to
Arthur's court. And, if Arthur was rejoiced when he saw
him after he had lost him the first time, his joy was now
much greater. And, of those ladies, such as wished to
remain in Arthur's court remained there, and such as
wished to depart departed.

And thenceforward Owain dw«-it at Arthur's court,

The Lady of the Fountain. 39

greatly beloved, as the head of his household, until he
went away with his followers ; and those were the army
of three hundred ravens T which Kenverchyn had left him.
And wherever Owain went with these he was victorious.
And this is the tale of The Lady of the Fountain.

1 This strange army of ravens figures in a tale given presently — " The Dream of
Rhonabwy."

40 The Boy's Mabinogion.

KILHWCH' AND OLWEN ; OR, THE
TWRCH TRWYTH.

FTV^ILHWCH, having grown to be a youth in the
L J-%. pa]ace of his father, was one day sent for by his
stepmother, who said to him], " I declare to thee that it
is thy destiny not to be suited with a wife until thou
obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr."

And the youth blushed, and the love of the maiden
diffused itself through all his frame, although he had
never seen her. And his father inquired of him, " What
has come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee ? "

" My stepmother has declared to me that I shall never
have a wife until I obtain Olwen, the daughter of Yspad-
daden Penkawr."

"That will be easy for thee," answered his father.
"Arthur is thy cousin. Go, therefore, unto Arthur to
cut thy hair, and ask this of him as a boon."

And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head
dappled-gray, of four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-
formed hoofs, having a bridle of linked gold on his head,

1 [Pronounced in two syllables " Kil-r.occh," the oo sound prolonged or drawled
and the ch very gut xral as in the vigorous utterance of Scotch }och, German ach, etc
So " Twrch Trwyth ' like Toorch Trooweth ]

Kilhwch and Olwcn. 41

and upon him a saddle of costly gold.1 And in the youth's
hand were two spears of silver, sharp, well-tempered,
headed with steel, three ells in length, of an edge to
wound the wind and cause blood to flow, and swifter than
the fall of the dewdrop from the blade of reed-grass upon
the earth when the dew of June is at the heaviest. A
gold-hilted sword was upon his thigh, the blade of which
was of gold, bearing a cross of inlaid gold of the hue of
the lightning of heaven. His war-horn was of ivory.
Before him were two brindled white-breasted greyhounds,
having strong collars of rubies about their necks reaching
from the shoulder to the ear. And the one that was on
the left side bounded across to the right side, and the one
on the right to the left, and like two sea-swallows sported
around him. And his courser cast up four sods with his
four hoofs, like four swallows in the air, about his head,
now above, now below. About him was a four-cornered
cloth of purple ; and an apple of gold was at each corner,
and every one of the apples was of the value of an hundred
kine. And there was precious gold of the value of three
hundred kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups, from
his knee to the tip of his toe. And the blade of grass
bent not beneath him, so light was his courser's tread, as
he journeyed towards the gate of Arthur's palace.

Spoke the youth, " Is there a porter ? "

"Tiere is ; and, if thou holdest not thy peace, small will

1 A wonderful bracing air seems to blow through this description. The superb
details make up really a typic picture of youth in all times and countries.

42 The Boy's Mabiuogion.

be thy welcome. I am Arthur's porter every first day of
January. And, during every other part of the year but
this, the office is filled by Huandaw, and Gogigwc, and
Llaeskenym, ai d Pennpingyon, who goes upon his head
to save his feet, like a rolling stone upon the floor of the
court."

" Open the portal."

" I will not open it."

"Wherefore not?"

" The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn,
and there is revelry in Arthur's hall ; and none may enter
therein, but the son of a king of a privileged country, or a
craftsman bringing his craft."

Said the youth, " That will I not do. If thou openest
the gate, it is well. If thou dost not open it, I will bring
disgrace upon thy lord, and evil report upon thee. And
I will set up three shouts at this very gate, than which
none were ever more deadly, from the top of Pengwaed
in Cornwall, to the bottom of Dinsol in the north, and
to Esgair Oervel in Ireland."

"What clamor soever thou mayest make," said Glew-
Ivvyrl Gavaelvawr, "against the laws of Arthur's palace,
shalt thou not enter therein, until I first go and speak
with Arthur."

Then Glewlwyd went into the hall. And Arthur said
to him, " Hast thou news from the gate ? "

" Half of my lif ; is past, and half of thine. I was here-
tofore in Kaer Se and Asse, in Sach and SrJach, in Lotor

Kilhwch and Olwen. 43

and Fotor ; and I have been heretofore in India the Great
and India the Lesser ; and I was in the battle of Dau Ynyr,
when the twelve hostages were brought from Llychlyn ;
and I have also been in Europe, and in Africa, and in the
islands of Corsica, and in Caer Brythwch and Brythach
and Verthach ; and I was present when formerly thou
didst slay the family )f Clis the son of Merin, and when
thou didst slay Mil D i the son of Ducum, and when thou
didst conquer Greece in the East ; and I have been in
Caer Oeth and Annoeth, and in Caer Nevenhyr ; nine
supreme sovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, but
never did I behold a man of equal dignity with him who
is now at the door of the portal."

Then said Arthur, "If walking thou didst enter in here,
return thou running. And every one that beholds the
light, and every one that opens and shuts the eye, let
them show him respect, and serve him ; some with gold-
mounted drinking-horns, others with collops cooked and
peppered, until food and drink can be prepared for him.
It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou sayest he is
in the wind and the rain."

Said Kai, " By the hand of my friend, if thou would'st
follow my counsel, thou would'st not break through the
laws of the court because of him."

" Not so, blessed Kai. It is an honor to us to be re-
sorted to ; and the greater our courtesy the greater will be
our renown, and our fame, md our glory."

And Glewlwyd came to t he gate, and opened the gate

44 The Boy's Mabinogion.

before him ; and, although all dismounted upon the horse-
block at the gate, yet did he not dismount, but rode in
upon his charger. Then said Kilhwch, " Greeting be unto
thee, sovereign ruler of this island ; and be this greeting
no less unto the lowest than unto the highest."

"Greeting unto thee, also," said Arthur. "Sit thou
between two of my warriors, and thou shalt have min-
strels before thee ; and thou shalt enjoy the privileges
of a king born to a throne, as long as thou remainest
here."

Said the youth, " I came not here to consume meat and
drink ; but, if I obtain the boon that I seek, I will requite
it thee, and extol thee. And, if I have it not, I will bear
forth thy dispraise to the four quarters of the world, as far
as thy renown has extended."

Then said Arthur, " Since thou wilt not remain here,
chieftain, thou shalt receive the boon whatsoever thy
tongue may name, as far as the wind dries, and the rain
moistens, and the sun revolves, and the sea encircles, and
the earth extends ; save only my ship, and my mantle,
and Caledvwlch, my sword, and Rhongomyant, my lance,
and Wynebgwrthucher, my shield, and Carnwenhau, my
dagger, and Gwenhwyvar, my wife. Name what thou
wilt."

" I would that thou bless my hair."

" That shaH be granted thee."

And Arthui took a golden comb, and scissors whereof
the loops were of silver, and he combed his hair. And

ta
c

Kilhwch and Olwen. 45

Arthur inquired of him who he was. "For my heart
warms unto thee, and I know that thou art come of my
blood. Tell me, therefore, who thou art."

" I will tell thee," said the youth. " I am Kilhwch, the
son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelydclon by Goleuddydd
my mother, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd."

"That is true," said Arthur. "Thou art my cousin.
Whatsoever boon thou mayest ask, thou shalt receive, be
it what it may that thy tongue shall name."

" I crave of thee, then, that thou obtain for me Olwen,
the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr; and this boon I
likewise seek at the hands of thy warriors. I seek it from
Kai, and Geraint the son of Erbin, and Osla Gylleilvawr
(who bore a short, broad dagger : when Arthur and his
hosts came before a torrent, they would seek for a narrow
place where they might pass the water, and would lay the
sheathed dagger across the torrent, and it would form a
bridge sufficient for the armies of the three islands of
Britain, and of the three islands adjacent, with their
spoil) , and Gilla Goes Hydd (he would clear three him-
dred acres at one bound : the chief leaper of Ireland was
he) ; Sol, and Gwadyn Ossol, and Gwadyn Odyeith (Sol
could stand all day upon one foot ; Gwadyn Ossol, if he
stood upon the top of the highest mountain in the world,
it would become a level plain under his feet ; Gwadyn
Odyeith, the soles of his feet emitted sparks of fire when
they struck upon things hard, like the heated mass when
drawn out of the forge : he cleared the way for Arthu;

46 The Boy's Mabinogion.

when he came to any stoppage) ; and Gwevyl, the son of
Gwestad (on the day that he was sad, he would let one
of his lips irop below his waist, while he turned up the
other like a cap upon his head) ; Uchtryd Varyf Draws
(who spread his red untrimmed beard over the eight and
forty rafters which were in Arthur's hall) ; Brys, the son
of Bryssethach (from the Hill of the Black Fernbrake in
North Britain) ; Clust, the son of Clustveinad (though he
were buried seven cubits beneath the earth, he would hear
the ant fifty miles off rise from her nest in the morning) ;
Medyr, the son of Methredydd (from Gelli Wic he could,
in a twinkling, shoot the wren through the two legs upon
Esgeir Oervel in Ireland) ; and Henwas Adeinawg, the
son of Erim ; and Henbedestyr, the son of Erim ; and
Sgilti Yscawndroed, the son of Erim (unto these three
men belonged these three qualities : with Henbedestyr
there was not any one who could keep pace, either on
horseback or on foot ; with Henwas Adeinawg, no four-
footed beast could run the distance of an acre, much less
could go beyond it ; and as to Sgilti Yscawndroed, when
he intended to go upon a message for his lord, he never
sought to find a path, but knowing whither he was to go,
if his way lay through a wood, he went along the tops of
the trees) ; and Hueil, the son of Kaw (he never yet
made a request at the hand of any lord) ; and Taliesin,
the chief of the bards ; and Manawyddan, the son of Llyr ;
Bwlch and Kyfwlch and Sefwlch, the sons of Cleddyf
Kyfwlch (their three shields were three gleaming glit

Kilhwch and Olwen. 47

terers ; their ;hree spears were three pointed piercers ;
their three swords were three griding gashers, — Glas,
Glessic, and Gleisad ; their three dogs, Call, Cuall, and
Cavall ; their three horses, Hwyrdyddwd and Drwgdy-
ddwd and Llwyrdyddwg ; their three wives, Och and
Garym and Diaspad ; their three grandchildren, Lluched
and Neved and Eissiwed ; their three daughters, Drwg
and Gwaeth and Gwaethav Oil ; their three handmaids,
Eheubryd the daughter of Kyfwlch, Gorascwrn the daugh-
ter of Nerth, Ewaedan the daughter of Kynvelyn Keu-
dawd Pwyll the half-man) ; and Morvran, the son of Tegid
(no one struck him in the battle of Camlan by reason of
his ugliness ; all thought he was an auxiliary devil ; hair
had he upon him like the hair of a stag) ; and Sandde
Bryd Angel (no one touched him with a spear in the battle
of Camlan, because of his beauty ; all thought he was a
ministering angel) ; and Glwydclyn Saer (who constructed
Ehangwen, Arthur's hall) ; for the sake of the golden-
chained daughters of this island --for the sake of Gwen-
hwyvar, its chief lady, and Gwennhwyach, her sister, and
Rathtyeu, the only daughter of Clemenhill, and Rhele-
mon, the daughter of Kai ; Morvudd, the daughter of
Urien Rheged ; Gwenllian Deg, the majestic maiden ,
Creiddylad,1 the daughter of Lludd Llaw Ereint (she

1 " Creiddylad" is the old Welsh name out of which the English tongue has made
" Cordelia ; " and this lady is no other than the loving daughter of King Lear. Lear's
name in the Welsh originals lying far back beyond Shakspere's play is sometimes
" Llyr " (as in " Manawyddan, the son of Llyr," who gives name to one of the Mabi
nogion), and sometime! , as here, " Lludd Llaw Ereint."

48 The Boy's - Mabinogion.

was the most splendid maiden in the three islands of
the mighty, and in the three islands adjacent ; and for
her, Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, and Gwynn the son
of Nudd, fight every first of May until the day of doom) '

And all these1 did Kilhwch, son of Kilydd, adjure to
obtain his boon.

Then said Arthur, " O chieftain ! I have never heard of
the maiden of whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred ;
but I will gladly send messengers in search of her. Give
me time to seek her."

And the youth said, " I will willingly grant from this
night to that at the end of the year to do so."

Then Arthur sent messengers to every land within his
dominions to seek for the maiden ; and at the end of the
year Arthur's messengers returned without having gained
any knowledge or intelligence concerning Olwen, more
than on the first day. Then said Kilhwch, " Every one
has received his boon, and I yet lack mine. I will depart,
and bear away thy honor with me."

'It would be the grossest injustice to the tongue and the memory of our astound-
ing Kilhwch not to mention carefully at this point that the names of Arthur's warriors
ana actendants which I have here given form but a small portion of the truly surpris-
ing list which he actually pours forth in the original story, as he stands before the king.
These amount to more than two hundred ; and there is no risk whatever in saying that
the resources of the English alphabet have never met with a like strain as in the repro-
duction of them presented by Lady Guest. " Uchtryd Ardywad Kacl," and " Gwrhyr
Gwarthegvras," and " Esgeir Gulhwch Govynkawn," and " Drustnrn Hayarn," and
" Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr," and "Lloch Llawwynnyawc," may serve as examples.
Kilhwch recites most of these without comment. I have selected those, but not ai;,
to which he adds some parenthetic description. I have given them, too, in a differen'
order from that of the original.

Kilhwch and Olwen. 49

Then said Kai, " Rash chieftain ! dost thou reproach
Arthur ? Go with us, and we will not part until thou dost
confess that the maiden exists not in the world, or until
we obtain her."

Thereupon Kai rose up. Kai had this peculiarity, that
his breath lasted nine nights and nine days under water,
and he could exist nine nights and -nine days without
sleep. A wound from Kai's sword no physician could
heal. Very subtle was Kai. When it pleased him, he
could render himself as tall as the highest tree in the
forest. And he had another peculiarity : so great was
the heat of his nature that, when it rained hardest, what-
ever he carried remained dry for a handbreadth above,
and a handbreadth below, his hand ; and, when his com-
panions were coldest, it was to them as fuel with which
to light their fire.

And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any
enterprise upon which Kai was bound. None was equai
to him in swiftness throughout this island, except Arthur
and Drych Ail Kibddar. And, although he was one-
handed, three warriors could not shed blood faster than
he on the field of battle. Another property he had : his
lance would produce a wound equal to those of nine
opposing lances.

And Arthur called to Kynddelig the guide, " Go thou
upon this expedition with the chieftain."

For as good a guide was he in a land which he had never
seen as he was in his own.

50 The Boy's Mabinogion.

He called Gwrhyr Gwalstawt leithoedd, because he
knew all tongues.

He called Gwalchmai, the son of Gwyar, because he
never returned home without achieving the adventure of
which he went in quest. He was the best of footmen
and the best of knights. He was nephew to Arthur, the
son of his sister and his cousin.

And Arthur called Menw, the son of Teirgwaedd, in
order that if they went into a savage country he might
cast a charm and an illusion over them, so that none
might see them, whilst they could see every one.

They journeyed until they came to a vast, open plain,
wherein they saw a great castle, which was the fairest of
the castles of the world. And they journeyed that day
until the evening ; and, when they thought they were nigh
to the castle, they were no nearer to it than they had been
in the morning. And the second and the third day they
journeyed, and even then scarcely could they reach so far.
And, when they came before the castle, they beheld a vast
flock of sheep, which was boundless and without an end.
And upon the top of a mound there was a herdsman keep-
ing the sheep. And a rug made of skins was upon him ;
and by his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed
nine winters old. Never had he lost even a lamb from
his flock, much less a large sheep. He let no occasion
ever pass without doing some hurt and harm. All the
dead trees and bushes in the plain he burnt with his breath
down to the very ground.

Kilhwch and Olwen. 5 1

Then said Kai, " Gwrhyr Gwalstawt leithoedd, go thou,
and salute yonder man."

" Kai," said he, " I engaged not to go farther than thou
thyself."

" Let us go then, together," answered Kai.

Said Menw, the son of Teirgwaedd, "Fear not to go
thither ; for I will cast a spell upon the dog, so that he
shall injure no one."

And they went up to the mound whereon the herdsman
was ; and they said to him, " Whose are the sheep that
thou dost keep ? and to whom does yonder castle belong ? "

" Stupid are ye, truly. Through the whole world is it
known that this is the castle of Yspaddaden Penkawr."

"And who art thou?"

" I am called Custennin, the son of Dyfnedig ; and my
brother Yspaddaden Penkawr oppressed me because of
my possessions. And ye, also — who are ye ? "

" We are an embassy from Arthur, come to seek Olwen,
the daughter of Yspaddaden Penkawr."

" O men ! the mercy of Heaven be upon you ! Do not
that for all the world. None who ever came hither on this
quest has returned alive."

And the herdsman rose up. And, as he arose, Kilhwch
gave unto him a ring of gold. And he sought to put on
the ring, but it was too small for him : so he placed it in
the finger of his glove. And he went home, and gave the
glove to his spouse to keep. And she took the ring from
the glove when it was given her, and she said, " Whence

52 The Boy's Mabinogion.

came this ring ? For thou art not wont to have good
fortune."

"I went," said he, "to the sea to seek for fish, and, lo, I
saw a corpse borne by the waves. And a fairer corpse
than it did I never behold. And from its finger did I take
this ring."

"O man ! does the sea permit its dead to wear jewels?
Show me, then, this body."

" O wife ! him to whom this ring belonged thou shalt
see here in the evening."

"And who is he ?" asked the woman.

" Kilhwch, the son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyd-
don by Goleuddydd, the daughter of Prince Anlawdd, his
mother, who is come to seek Olwen as his wife."

And, when she heard that, her feelings were divided be-
tween the joy that she had that her nephew, the son of
her sister, was coming to her, and sorrow, because she had
never known any one depart alive who had come on that
quest.

And they went forward to the gate of Custennin, the
herdsman's dwelling. And, when she heard their footsteps
approaching, she ran out with joy to meet them. And
Kai snatched a billet out of the pile. And, when she met
them, she sought to throw her arms about their necks.
And Kai placed the log between her two hands, and she
squeezed it so that it became a twisted coil.

"O woman ! " said Kai, " if thou hadst squeezed me thus,
none could ever again have set their affections on me.
Evil love were this."

Kilhwch and Olwen. 53

They entered into the house, and were served ; and, soon
after, they all went forth to amuse themselves. Then the
woman opened a stone chest that was before the chimney-
corner, and out of it arose a youth with yellow curling
hair. Said Gwrhyr, " It is a pity to hide this youth. I
know that it is not his own crime that is thus visited upon
him."

"This is but a remnant," said the woman. " Three and
twenty of my sons has Yspaddaden Penkawr slain, and I
have no more hope of this one than of the others."

Then said Kai, " Let him come and be a companion
with me, and he shall not be slain unless I also am slain
with him."

And they ate. And the woman asked them, " Upon
what errand come you here ? "

" We come to seek Olwen for this youth."

Then said the woman, " In the name of Heaven, since
no one from the castle hath yet seen you, return again
whence you came."

" Heaven is our witness, that we will not return until
we have seen the maiden."

Said Kai, " Does she ever come hither, so that she may
be seen ? "

" She comes here every Saturday, to wash her head ;
and, in the vessel where she washes, she leaves all her
rings, and she never either comes herself, or sends any
messengers, to fetch them."

" Will she come here if she is sent to ? "

54 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" Heaven knows that I will not destroy my soul, nor
will I betray those that trust me. Unless you will pledge
me your faith that you will not harm her, I will not send
to her."

" We pledge it," said they. So a message was sent ;
and she came.

The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-colored silk ;
and about her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which
were precious emeralds and rubies. More yellow was her
head than the flower of the broom ; and her skin was whiter
than the foam of the wave ; and fairer were her hands and
her fingers than the blossoms of the wood-anemone amidst
the spray of the meadow fountain. The eye of the trained
hawk, the glance of the three-mewed falcon, was not
brighter than hers. Her bosom was more snowy than the
oreast of the white swan ; her cheek was redder than the
reddest roses. Whoso beheld her was filled with her love.
Four white trefoils sprung up wherever she trod. And
therefore was she called Olwen.

She entered the house, and sat beside Kilhwch, upon the
foremost bench. And as soon as he saw her he knew her.
And Kilhwch said unto her, " Ah, maiden ! thou art she
whom I have loved. Come away with me, lest they speak
evil of thee and of me. Many a day have I loved thee."

" I cannot do this ; for I have pledged my faith to my
father not to go without his counsel, for his life will last
only until the time of my espousals. Whatever is must
be. But I will give thee advice, if thou wilt take it. Go,

Kilhwch and Olwen. 55

ask me of my father, and that which he shall require of
thee, grant it, and thou wilt obtain me ; but, if thou deny
him any thing, thou wilt not obtain me, and it will be well
for thee if thou escape with thy life."

" I promise all this, if occasion offer," said he.

She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up, and
followed her to the castle. And they slew the nine
porters that were at the nine gates, in silence. And they
slew the nine watch-dogs, without one of them barking.
And they went forward to the hall.

" The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee
Yspaddaden Penkawr," said they.

" And you — wherefore come you ? "

" We come to ask thy daughter Olwen for Kilhwch, the
son of Kilydd, the son of Prince Kelyddon."

"Where are my pages and my servants ? Raise up the
forks beneath my two eyebrows, which have fallen over
my eyes, that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law."
And they did so. " Come hither to-morrow, and you shall
have an answer."

They rose to go forth ; and Yspaddaden Penkawr seized
or s of the three poisoned darts that lay beside him, and
threw it after them. And Bedwyr caught it, and flung
it, and pierced Yspaddaden Penkawr grievously with it
through the knee. Then he said, " A cursed ungentle
son-in-law, truly ! I shall ever walk the worse for his rude-
ness, and shall ever be without a cure. This poisoned
iron pains me like the bite of a gadfly. Cursed be the

56 The Boy's Mabinogion.

smith who forged it, and the anvil whereon it was
wrought ! So sharp is it ! "

That night also they took up their abode in the house
of Custennin the herdsman. The next day, with the dawn,
they arrayed themselves in haste, and proceeded to the
castle, and entered the hall ; and they said, " Yspaddaden
Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of her
dower and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee and
to her two kinswomen likewise. And, unless thou wilt do
so, thou shalt meet with thy death on her account."

Then he said, " Her four great -grandmothers and her
four great-grandsires are yet alive : it is needful that I take
counsel of them."

" Be it so," answered they. " We will go to meat."

As they rose up, he took the second dart that was be-
side him, and cast it after them. And Menw, the son of
Gwaedd, caught it, and flung it back at him, and wounded
him in the centre of the breast, so that it came out at the
small of his back. " A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly ! "
said he. " The hard iron pains me like the bite of a horse-
leech. Cursed be the hearth whereon it was heated, and
the smith who formed it ! So sharp is it ! Henceforth,
whenever I go up a hill, I shall have a scant in my breath
and a pain in my chest, and I shall often loathe my food."
And they went to meat.

And the third day they returned to the palace. And
Yspaddaden Penkawr said to them, " Shoot not at me
again, unless you desire death. Where are my attend

Kilhwch and Olwen. 57

ants ? Lift up the forks of my eyebrows, which have fallen
over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of my son
in-law."

Then they arose ; and, as they did so, Yspaddaden
Penkawr took the third poisoned dart, and cast it at them.
And Kilhwch caught it, and threw it vigorously, and
wounded him through the eyeball so that the dart came
out at the back of his head. " A cursed ungentle son-in-
law, truly ! As long as I remain alive, my eyesight will
be the worse. Whenever I go against the wind, my eyes
will water, and peradventure my head will burn, and I
shall have a giddiness every new moon. Cursed be the
fire in which it was forged ! Like the bite of a mad dog is
the stroke of this poisoned iron." And they went to
meat.

And the next day they came again to the palace, and
they said, " Shoot not at us any more, unless thou desirest
such hurt and harm and torture as thou now hast, and
even more. Give me thy daughter, and, if thou wilt not
give her, thou shalt receive thy death because of her."

" Where is he that seeks my daughter ? Come hither,
where I may see thee." And they placed him in a chair
face to face with him.

Said Yspaddaden Penkawr, " Is it thou that seekest my
daughter ? "

" It is I," answered Kilhwch.

" I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not do towards
me otherwise than is just, and, when I have gotten that
which I shall name, my daughter thou shalt have."

58 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" I promise thee that willingly," said Kilhwch. " Name
what thou wilt."

" I will do so," said he. " Seest thou yonder vast hill ? "

"I see it."

" I require that it be rooted up, and that the grubbings
be burned for manure on the face of the land, and that it
be ploughed and sown in one day, and in one day that the
grain ripen. And of that wheat I intend to make food
and liquor fit for the wedding of thee and my daughter.
And all this I require done in one day."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though this be easy for thee, there is yet that which
will not be so. No husbandman can till or prepare this
land, so wild is it, except Amaethon, the son of Don ; and
he will not come with thee by his own free will, and thou
wilt not be able to compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get, — the two dun oxen of Gwlwlyd, both yoked
together, to plough the wild land yonder stoutly. He will
not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be
able to compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. The yellow and the brindled bull yoked
together do I require."

KilhwcJi arid Olwen. 59

" It will be easy for me to compass this."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get, — the two-horned oxen, one of which is beyond,
and the other this side of, the peaked mountain, yoked
together in the same plough. And these are Nynniaw
and Peibiaw,1 whom God turned into oxen on account of
their sins."

"It will be easy for me to compass this."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. Seest thou yonder red-tilled ground ? "

"I see it."

"When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine
bushels of flax were sown therein, and none has yet sprung
up, neither white nor black ; and I have the measure by
me still. I require to have the flax to sow in the new
land yonder, that when it grows up it may make a white
wimple for my daughter's head on the day of thy wedding."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. Honey that is nine times sweeter than the
honey of the virgin swarm, without scum and bees, do I
require to make bragget for the feast."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" The vessel of Llwyr, the son of Llwyryon, which is of
the utmost value. There is no other vesssl in the world

1 See the story of Nynniaw and Peibiaw in the Introduction.

60 The Boy's Mabinogion.

that can hold this drink. Of his free will thou wilt not
get it, and thou canst not compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get, — the basket of Gwyddneu Garanhir. If the
whole world should come together, thrice nine men at a
time, the meat that each of them desired would be found
within it. I require to eat therefrom on the night that my
daughter becomes thy bride. He will give it to no one of
his own free will, and thou canst not compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get, — the horn of Gwlgawd Gododin, to serve us
with liquor that night. He will not give it of his own free
will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get, — the harp of Teirtu to play to us that night.
When a man desires that it should play, it does so of
itself, and when he desires that it should cease it ceases.
And this he will not give of his own free will, and thou
wilt not be able to compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt

Kilhwch and Olwen. 61

not get, — the caldron of Diwrnach Wyddel, the steward
of Odgar the son of Aedd, King of Ireland, to boil the
meat for thy marriage-feast."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. It is needful for me to wash my head, and
shave my beard ; and I require the tusk of Yskithyrwyn
Benbaedd to shave myself withal, neither shall I profit by
its use if it be not plucked alive out of his head."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. There is no one in the world that can pluck
it out of his head, except Odgar the son of Aedd, King of
Ireland."

" It will be easy for me to compass this."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. I will not trust any one to keep the tusk,
except Gado of North Britain. Now the threescore Can-
trevs of North Britain are under his sway ; and of his own
free will he will not come out of his kingdom, and thou
wilt not be able to compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. I must spread out my hair in order to shave it,
and it will never be spread out unless I have the blood

62 The Boy's Mabinogion.

of the jet black sorceress, the daughter of the pure white
sorceress, from Pen Nant Govid on the confines of Hell."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. I will not have the blood, unless I have it
warm ; and no vessels will keep warm the liquid that is
put therein, except the bottles of Gwyddolwyn Gorr, which
preserve the heat of the liquor that is put into them in the
east until they arrive at the west. And he will not give
them of his own free will, and thou wilt not be able to
compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Some will desire fresh milk ; and it will not be
possible to have fresh milk for all, unless we have the
bottles of Rhinnon Rhin Barnawd, wherein no liquor ever
turns sour. And he will not give them of his own free
will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Throughout the world, there is not a comb or
scissors with which I can arrange my hair, on account of
its rankness, except the comb and scissors that are between
the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, the son of Prince Tared.
He will not give them of his own free will, and thou wilt

to

Kilhwch and Olwen. 63

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. It will not be possible to hunt Twrch Trwyth,
without Drudwyn, the whelp of Greid, the son of Eri."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Throughout the world there is not a leash that
can hold him, except the leash of Cwrs Cant Ewin."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Throughout the world there is no collar that will
hold the leash, except the collar of Canhastyr Canllaw."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get, — the chain of Kilydd Canhastyr, to fasten the
collar to the leash."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Throughout the world there is not a huntsman
who can hunt with this dog, except Mabon, the son of
Modron. He was taken from his mother when three
nights old, and it is not known where he now is, nor
whether he is living or dead."

64 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get, — Gwynn Mygdwn, the horse of Gweddw, that is
as swift as the wave, to carry Mabon, the son of Modron,
to hunt the boar Trwyth. He will not give him of his
own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Thou wilt not get Mabon, for it is not known
where he is, unless thou find Eidoel, his kinsman in blood,
the son of Aer. For it would be useless to seek for him.
He is his cousin."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Garselit the Gwyddelian is the chief huntsman
of Ireland : the Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted with-
out him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get, — a leash made from the beard of Dissull Varvawc,
for that is the only one that can hold those two cubs. And
the leash will be of no avail, unless it be plucked from his
beard while he is alive, and twitched out with wooden
tweezers. While he lives, he will not suffer this to be

Kilhwch and Olwen. 65

done to him. And the leash will be of no use, should he
be dead, because it will be brittle."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Throughout the world there is no huntsman
that can hold those two whelps, except Kynedyr Wyllt, the
son of Hettwn Glafyrawc. He is nine times more wild
than the wildest beast upon the mountains. Him wilt
thou never get, neither wilt thou ever get my daughter."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. It is not possible to hunt the boar Trwyth with
out Gwynn, the son of Nudd, whom God has placed over
the brood of devils in Annwn, lest they should destroy
the present race. He will never be spared thence."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. There is not a horse in the world that can carry
Gwynn to hunt the Twrch Trwyth, except Du, the horse
of Mor of Oerveddawg."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

" Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt
not get. Until Gilennhin, the King of France, shall come,
the Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted. It will be unseeml)

66 The Boy's Mabinogion.

for him to leave his kingdom for thy sake, and he will
never come hither."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. The Twrch Trwyth can never be hunted
without the son of Alun Dyved : he is well skilled in let-
ting loose the dogs."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted, unless
thou get Aned and Aethlem. They are as swift as the
gale of wind, and they were never let loose upon a beastv
that they did not kill him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get, — Arthur and his companions to hunt the
Twrch Trwyth. He is a mighty man, and he will not
come for thee, neither wilt thou be able to compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. The Twrch Trwyth cannot be hunted, unless
thou get Bwlch and Kyfwlch [and Sefwlch], the grandsons
of Cleddyf Difwlch. Their three shields are three gleam-
ing glitterers. Their three spears are three pointed

KilJiwcJi and Olwen. 67

piercers. Their three swords are three griding gashers,
Glas, Glessic, and Clersag. Their three dogs, Call, Cuall,
and Cavall Their three horses, Hwyrdydvvg and Drw-
gdydwg and Llwyrdydwg. Their three wives, Och and
Garam and Diaspad. Their three grandchildren, Lluched
and Vyned and Eissiwed. Their three daughters, Drwg
and Gwaeth and Gwaethav Oil. Their three handmaids
[Eheubryd, the daughter of Kyfwlch ; Gorasgwrn, the
daughter of Nerth ; and Gwaedan, the daughter of Kyn-
velyn]. These three men shall sound the horn, and all
the others shall shout, so that all will think that the sky
is falling to the earth."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get, — the sword of Gwrrnach the Giant : he will
never be slain except therewith. Of his own free will he
will not give it, either for a price or as a gift ; and thou
wilt never be able to compel him."

" It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou
mayest think that it will not be easy."

"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou
wilt not get. Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights
without sleep, in seeking this, and, if thou obtain it not,
neither shalt thou obtain my daughter."

" Horses shall I have, and chivalry ; and my lord and
kinsman Arthur will obtain for me all these things. And
I shall gain thy daughter, and thou shalt lose thy life."

68 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for food
or raiment for my daughter while thou art seeking these
things ; and, when thou hast compassed all these marvels,
thou shalt have my daughter for thy wife."

All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then
they beheld a vast castle, which was the largest in the
world. And lo, a black man, huger than three of the men
of this world, came out from the castle. And they spoke
unto him : "Whence comest thou, O man?"

" From the castle which you see yonder."

"Whose castle is that?" asked they.

" Stupid are ye, truly, O men ! There is no one in the
world that does not know to whom this castle belongs.
It is the castle of Gwrnach the Giant."

" What treatment is there for guests and strangers that
alight in that castle ? "

" O chieftain, Heaven protect thee ! No guest ever re-
turned thence alive, and no one may enter therein, unless
he biings with him his craft."

Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gwrhyr
Gwalstawd leithoedd, " Is there a porter ? "

"There is. And thou, if thy tongue be not n\»te in
thy head, wherefore dost thou call ? "

" Open the gate."

" I will not open it."

" Wherefore wilt thou not ? "

"The knife is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn,
and there is revelry in the hall of Gwrnach the Giant, and

Kilhwch and Olwcn. 69

except for a craftsman who brings his craft the gate will
not be opened to-night."

" Verily, porter," then said Kai, " my craft bring I with

me."

"What is thy craft?"

"The best burnisher of swords am I in the world."

" I will go and tell this unto Gwrnach the Giant, and I
will bring thee an answer."

So the porter went in ; and Gwrnach said to him,
" Hast thou any news from the gate ? "

" I have. There is a party at the door of the gate who
desire to come in."

"Didst thou inquire of them if they possessed any art?"

" I did inquire," said he ; "and one told me that he was
well skilled in the burnishing of swords."

" We have need of him, then. For some time have I
sought for some one to polish my sword, and could find
no one. Let this man enter, since he brings with him his
craft."

The porter thereupon returned, and opened the gate.
And Kai went in by himself, and he saluted Gwrnach the
Giant. And a chair was placed for him opposite to
Gwrnach. And Gwrnach said to him, " O man ! is it true
that is reported of thee, — that thou knowest how to bur-
nish swords ? "

" I know full well how to do so," answered Kai.

Then was the sword of Gwrnach brought to him. And
Kai took a blue whetstone from under his arm, and asked
him whether he would have it burnished white or blue.

70 The Boy's Mabinogion.

"Do with it as it seems good to thee, and as thou
would'st if it were thine own."

Then Kai polished one-half of the blade, and put it in
his hand. "Will this please thee?" asked he.

" I would rather than all that is in my dominions that
the whole of it were like unto this. It is a marvel to me
that such a man as thou should be without a companion."

" O noble sir ! I have a companion, albeit he is not
skilled in this art."

" Who may he be ? "

" Let the porter go forth, and I will tell him whereby
he may know him. The head of his lance will leave its
shaft, and draw blood from the wind, and will descend
upon its shaft again."

Then the gate was opened, and Bedwyr entered. And
Kai said, " Bedwyr is very skilful, although he knows not
this art."

And there was much discourse among those who were
without, because that Kai and Bedwyr had gone in. And
a young man who was with them, the only son of Custen-
nin the herdsman, got in also. And he caused all his
companions to keep close to him as he passed the three
wards, and until he came into the midst of the castle.
And his companions said unto the son of Custennin,
" Thou hast done this : thou art the best of all men."
And thenceforth he was called Goreu, the son of Custen-
nin. Then they dispersed to their lodgings, that they
might slay those who lodged therein, unknown to the
Giant.

Kilhwch and Olwen. 71

The sword was now polished, and Kai gave it unto the
hand of Gwrnach the Giant, to see if he were pleased with
his work. And the Giant said,, " The work is good : I am
content therewith."

Said Kai, " It is thy scabbard that hath rusted thy
sword. Give it to me, that I may take out the wooden
sides of it, and put in new ones." And he took the scab-
bard from him, and the sword in the other hand. And he
came and stood over against the Giant, as if he would
have put the sword into the scabbard ; and with it he
struck at the head of the Giant, and cut off his head at
one blow. Then they despoiled the castle, and took from
it what goods and jewels they would. And again on the
same day, at the beginning of the year, they came to
Arthur's court, bearing with them the sword of Gwrnach
the Giant.

Now, when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur
said, " Which of these marvels will it be best for us to
seek first ? "

" It will be best," said they, " to seek Mabon, the son of
Modron ; and he will not be found, unless we first find
Eidoel, the son of Aer, his kinsman."

Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors of the islands of
Britain with him, to seek for Eidoel ; and they proceeded
until they came before the Castle of Glivi, where Eidoel
was imprisoned. Glivi stood on the summit of his castle,
and he said, " Arthur, what requirest thou of me, since
nothing remains to me in this fortress, and I have neither

72 Tlie Boy's Mabinogion.

joy nor pleasure in it, neither wheat nor oats ? Seek not
therefore to do me harm."

Said Arthur, "Not to injure thee came I hither, but to
seek for the prisoner that is with thee."

" I will give thee my prisoner, though I had not thought
to give him up to any one, and therewith shalt thou have
my support and my aid."

His followers said unto Arthur, " Lord, go thou home :
thou canst not proceed with thy host in quest of such
small adventures as these."

Then said Arthur, " It were well for thee, Gwrhyr
Gwalstawd leithoedd, to go upon this quest ; for thou
knowest all languages, and art familiar with those of the
birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel, oughtest likewise to
go with my men in search of thy cousin. And as for you,
Kai and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye
are in quest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye this
adventure for me."

They went forward until they came to the Ousel of
Cilgwri. And Gwrhyr adjured her for the sake of Heaven,
saying, " Tell me if thou knowest aught of Mabon, the son
of Moclron, who was taken, when three nights old, from
between his mother anci the wall."

And the Ousel answered, "When I first came here,
there was a smith's anvil in this place, and I was then a
young bird. And from that time no work has been done
upon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening ; and
now there is not so much as the size of a nut remaining

Kilhwch and Olwen. 73

thereof ; yet the vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if,
during all that time, I have ever heard of the man for
whom you inquire. Nevertheless I will do that which is
right, and that which it is fitting that I should do for an
embassy from Arthur. There is a race of animals who
were formed before me, and I will be your guide to them."

So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of
Redynvre. " Stag of Redynvre, behold, we are come to
thee, an embassy from Arthur ; for we have not heard of
any animal older than thou. Say, knowest thou aught of
Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother
when three nights old ? "

The Stag said, "When first I came hither, there was a
plain all around me, without any trees save one oak
sapling, which grew up to be an oak with an hundred
branches. And that oak has since perished ; so that now
nothing remains of it but the withered stump. And from
that day to this I have been here ; yet have I never heard
of the man for whom you inquire. Nevertheless, being an
embassy from Arthur, I will be your guide to the place
where there is an animal which was formed before I was."

So they proceeded to the place where was the Owl of
Cwm Cawlwyd. " Owl of Cwm Cawlwvd, here is an em-
bassy from Arthur. Knowest thou aught of Mabon, the
son of Modron, who was taken, after three nights, from
his mother ? "

" If I knew, I would tell you. When first I came hither,
the wide valley you see was a wooded glen. And a race

74 The Boy's Mabinogion.

of men came and rooted it up. And there grew there a
second wood ; and this wood is the third. My wings,
are they not withered stumps ? Yet all this time, even
until to-day, I have never heard of the man for whom you
inquire. Nevertheless, I will be the guide of Arthur's
embassy until you come to the place where is the oldest
animal in this world, and the one that has travelled
most, — the Eagle of Gwern Abwy."

Gwrhyr said, " Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to
thee, an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest
aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken from
his mother when he was three nights old."

The Eagle said, " I have been here for a great space of
time, and when I first came hither there was a rock here,
from the top of which I pecked at the stars every evening ;
and now it is not so much as a span high. From that
day to this I have been here, and I have never heard of
the man for whom you inquire, except once, when I went
in search of food as far as Llyn Llyw. And when I came
there, I struck my talons into a salmon, thinking he would
serve me as food for a long time. But he drew me into
the deep, and I was scarcely able to escape from him.
After that, I went with my whole kindred to attack him,
and to try to destroy him ; but he sent messengers, and
made peace with me, and came and besought me to take
fifty fish-spears out of his back. Unless he know some-
thing of him whom you seek, I cannot tell who may.
However, I will guide you to the place where he is."

Kilhwch and Olwen. 75

So they went thither ; and the Eagle said, " Salmon of
Llyn Llyw, I have come to thee with an embassy from
Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught concerning
Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken away at three
nights old from his mother."

" As much as I know I will tell thee. With every tide
I go along the river upwards until I come near to the
walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong
as I never found elsewhere. And to the end that ye may
give credence thereto let one of you go thither upon each
of my two shoulders."

So Kai and Gwrhyr Gwalstawd leithoedd went upon
the two shoulders of the salmon, and they proceeded until
they came unto the wall of the prison, and they heard a
great wailing and lamenting from the dungeon. Said
Gwrhyr, " Who is it that laments in this house of stone ? "

" Alas ! there is reason enough for whoever is here to
lament. It is Mabon, the son of Modron, who is here
imprisoned ; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous
as mine, — neither that of Lludd Llaw Ereint, nor that of
Greid, the son of Eri."

" Hast thou hope of being released for gold, or for silver,
or for any gifts of wealth, or through battle and fighting ? "

"By fighting will whatever I may gain be obtained."

Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and
they told him where Mabon, the son of Modron, was im-
prisoned. And Arthur summoned the warriors of the
island, and they journeyed as far as Gloucester, to the

76 The Boy's M^binogion.

place where Mabon was in prison. Kai and Bedwyr
went upon the shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors
of Arthur attacked the castle. And Kai broke through
the wall into the dungeon, and brought away the prisoner
upon his back whilst the fight was going on between the
warriors. And Arthur returned home, and Mabon with
him at liberty.

Said Arthur, " Which of the marvels will it be best for
us now to seek first ? "

" It will be best to seek for the two cubs of Cast
Rhymhi."

"Is it known," asked Arthur, "where she is?"

"She is in Aber Deu Cleddyf," said one.

Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad in Aber
Cleddyf, and he inquired of him whether he had heard
of her there.

" In what form may she be ? "

"She is in the form of a she-wolf," said he; "and with
her there are two cubs."

" She has often slain my herds, and she is there below
in s cave in Aber Cleddyf."

So Arthur went in his ship Prydwen, by sea, and the
others went by land, to hunt her. And they surrounded
her and her two cubs, and God did change them again for
Arthur into their own form. And the host of Arthur
dispersed themselves into parties of one and two.

Kilhwch and Olwen. 77

On a certain day, as Gwythyr, the son of Greidawl,
was walking over a mountain, he heard a wailing and a
grievous cry. And when he heard it he sprang forward,
and went towards it. And when he came there he drew
his sword, and smote off an ant-hill close to the earth,
whereby it escaped being burned in the fire. And the
ants said to him, " Receive from us the blessing of Heaven,
and that which no man can give we will give thee."

Then they fetched the nine bushels of flaxseed which
Yspaddaden Penkawr had required of Kilhwch, and they
brought the full measure without lacking any, except one
flaxseed, and that the lame pismire brought in before
night.

As Kai and Bedwyr sat on a beacon cairn on the summit
of Plinlimmon, in the highest wind that ever was in the
world, they looked around them, and saw a great smoke
towards the south afar off which did not bend with the
wind. Then said Kai, " By the hand of my friend, be-
hold, yonder is the fire of a robber ! "

Then they hastened towards the smoke, and they came
so near to it that they could see Dillus Varvawc scorch-
ing a wild boar.

" Behold, yonder is the greatest robber that ever fled
from Aithur," said Bedwyr unto Kai. " Dost thou know
him?"

" I do know him," answered Kai. " He is Dillus Var-
vawc ; and no leash in the world will be able to hold

78 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Drudwyn, the cub of Greid, the son of Eri, save a leash
made from the beard of him thou seest yonder. And
even that will be useless, unless his beard be plucked alive
with wooden tweezers ; for if dead it will be brittle."

" What thinkest thou that we should do concerning
this ? " said Bedwyr.

"Let us suffer him," said Kai, "to eat as much as he
will of the meat, and after that he will fall asleep."

And during that time they employed themselves in
making the wooden tweezers. And when Kai knew cer-
tainly that he was asleep he made a pit under his feet,
the largest in the world, and he struck him a violent
blow, and squeezed him into the pit. And there they
twitched out his beard completely with the wooden
tweezers ; and after that they slew him altogether.

And from thence they both went to Gelli Wic in Corn-
wall, and took the leash made of Dillus Varvawc's beard
with them, and they gave it into Arthur's hand. Ther
Arthur composed this Englyn : —

Kai made a leash

Of Dillus son of Eurei's beard.

Were he alive, thy death he'd be.

And thereupon Kai was wroth, so that the warriors of
the island could scarcely make peace between Kai and
Arthur. And thenceforth, neither in Arthur's troubles,
nor for the slaying of his men, would Kai come forward to
his aid forever after.

Kilhwch and Olwen. 79

Said Arthur, "Which of the marvels is it best for us
now to seek ? "

" It is best for us to seek Drudwyn, the cub of Greid,
the son of Eri."

A little while before this, Creiddylad, the daughter of
Lludd Llaw Ereint, and Gwythyr, the son of Greidawl,
were betrothed. And, before she had become his bride,
Gwyn ap Nudd came and carried her away by force ; and
Gwythyr, the son of Greidawl, gathered his host together,
and went to fight with Gwyn ap Nudd. But Gwyn
overcame him, and captured Greid, the son of Eri, and
Glinneu, the son of Taran, and Gwrgwst Ledlwm, and
Dynvarth, his son. And he captured Penn, the son of
Nethawg, and Nwython, and Kyledyr Wyllt, his son.

When Arthur heard of this, he went to the North, and
summoned Gwyn ap Nudd before him, and set free the
nobles whom he had put in prison, and made peace between
Gwyn ap Nudd, and Gwythyr, the son of Greidawl. And
this was the peace that was made : that the maiden should
remain in her father's house, without advantage to either
of them ; and that Gwyn ap Nudd, and Gwythyr, the son of
Griedawl, should fight for her every first of May, from
thenceforth until the day of doom ; and that whichever
of them should then be conqueror should have the maiden.

And, when Arthur had thus reconciled these chieftains,
he obtained Mygdwn, Gweddw's horse, and the leash of
Cwrs Cant Ewin.

And after that Arthur went into Armorica, and with him

8o The Boy 's Mabinogion.

Mabon, the son of Mellt, and Gvvare Gwallt Euryn, to seek
the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic. And when he had
got them, he went to the west of Ireland in search of
Gwrgi Seven ; and Odgar, the son of Aedd, King of Ire-
land, went with him. And thence went Arthur into the
North, and captured Kyledyr Wyllt ; and he went after
Yskithyrwyn Benbaedd. And Mabon, the son of Mellt,
came with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewic in his hand,
and Drudwyn, the cub of Greid, the son of Eri. And
Arthur went himself to the chase, leading his own dog,
Cavall. And Kaw of North Britain mounted Arthur's
mare, Llamrei, and was first in the attack. Then Kaw
of North Britain wielded a mighty axe, and absolutely dar-
ing he came valiantly up to the boar, and clave his head
in twain. And Kaw took away the tusk. Now the boar
was not slain by the dogs that Yspaddaden had mentioned,
but by Cavall, Arthur's own dog.

And after Yskithyrwyn Penbaedd was killed, Arthur and
his host departed to Gelli Wic in Cornwall. And thence
he sent Menw, the son of Teirgwaedd, to see if the precious
tilings were between the two ears of Twrch Trwyth, since
it were useless to encounter him if they were not there.
Albeit it was certain where he was, for he had laid waste
the third part of Ireland. And Menw went to seek for
him, and he met with him in Ireland, in Esgeir Oervel.
And Menw took the form of a bird ; and he descended
upon the top of his lair, and strove to snatch away one of
the precious things from him ; but he carried away nothing

Kilhwch and O liven. 8)

but one of his bristles. And the boar rose up angrily, anc
shook himself so that some of his venom fell upon Menw,
and he was never well from that day forward.

After this, Arthur sent an embassy to Odgar, the son of
Aedd, King of Ireland, to ask for the caldron of Diwrnach
Wyddel, his purveyor. And Odgar commanded him to
give it. But Diwrnach said, " Heaven is my witness, if it
would avail him any thing even to look at it, he should
not do so."

And the embassy of Arthur returned from Ireland with
this denial. And Arthur set forward with a small retinue,
and entered into Prydwen, his ship, and went over to Ire-
land. And they proceeded into the house of Diwrnach
Wyddel. And the hosts of Odgar saw their strength.
When they had eaten and drunk as much as they desired,
Arthur demanded to have the caldron. And he an-
swered, " If I would have given it to any one, I would have
given it at the word of Odgar, King of Ireland."

When he had given them this denial, Bedwyr arose, and
seized hold of the caldron, and placed it upon the back of
Hygwyd, Arthur's servant, who was brother, by the
mother's side, to Arthur's servant, Cachamwri. His office
was always to carry Arthur's caldron, and to place fire
under it. And Llenlleawg Wyddel seized Caledvwlch,
and brandished it. And they slew Diwrnach Wyddel and
his company. Then came the Irish, and fought with them.
And when he had put them to flight Arthur with his
men went forward to the ship, carrying away the caldron

82 The Boy's Mabinogion.

full of Irish money. And he disembarked at the house of
Llwydden, the son of Kelcoecl, at Forth Kerddin in Dyved.
And there is the measure of the caldron.

Then Arthur summoned unto him all the warriors that
were in the three islands of Britain and in the three
islands adjacent, and all that were in France and in Armo-
rica, in Normandy, and in the Summer Country, and all
that were chosen footmen and valiant horsemen. And
with all these he went into Ireland. And in Ireland there
was great fear and terror concerning him. And when
Arthur had landed in the country, there came unto him
the saints of Ireland, and besought his protection. And
he granted his protection unto them, and they gave him
their blessing. Then the men of Ireland came unto
Arthur, and brought him provisions. And Arthur went
as far as Esgeir Oervel, in Ireland, to the place where the
Boar Trwyth was with his seven young pigs. And the
dogs were let loose upon him from all sides. That day
until evening the Irish fought with him : nevertheless, he
laid waste the fifth part of Ireland. And on the day fol-
lowing, the household of Arthur fought with him, and they
were worsted by him, and got no advantage. And the
third day Arthur himself encountered him, and he fought
with him nine nights and nine days, without so much
as killing even one little pig. The warriors inquired of
Arthur what was the origin of that swine ; and he told
them that he was once a king, and that God had trans
formed him into a swine for his sins.

Kilhwch and Olwen. 83

Then Arthur sent Gwrhyr Gwalstawt leithoedd to en-
deavor to speak with him. And Gwrhyr assumed the form
of a bird, and alighted upon the top of the lair, where he
was with the seven young pigs. And Gwrhyr Gwahtawt
leithoedd asked him, " By him who turned you into this
form, if you can speak, let some one of you, I beseech you,
come and talk with Arthur."

Grugyn Gwrych Ereint made answer to him. (Now his
bristles were like silver wire ; and whether he went through
the wood or through the plain, he was to be traced by the
glittering of his bristles.) And this was the answer that
Grugyn made, " By him who turned us into this form, we
will not do so, and we will not speak with Arthur. That
we have been transformed thus is enough for us to surfer,
without your corning here to fight with us."

" I will tell you. Arthur comes but to fight for the
comb, and the razor, and the scissors, which are between
the two ears of Twrch Trwyth."

Said Grugyn, " Except he first take his life, he will never
have those precious things. And to-morrow morning we
will rise up hence, and we will go into Arthur's country,
and there will we do all the mischief that we can."

So they set forth through the sea towards Wales. And
Arthur and his hosts, and his horses and his dogs, entered
Prydwen, that they might encounter them without delay.
Twrch Trwyth landed in Forth Cleis in Dyved, and Arthur
came to Mynyw. The next day it was told to Arthur that
they had gone by, and he overtook them as they were kill-

84 The Boy's Mabinogion.

ing the cattle of Kynnwas Kwrr y Vagyl, having slain all
that were at Aber Cleddyf, of man and beast, before the
coming of Arthur.

Now when Arthur approached, Twrch Trwyth went on
as far as Preseleu, and Arthur and his hosts followed 1: im
thither, and Arthur sent men to hunt him, — Eli and
Trachmyr leading Drutwyn, the whelp of Greid, the son
of Eri ; and Gwarthegyd, the son of Kaw, in another quar-
ter, with the two dogs of Glythmyr Ledewig ; and Bedwyr
leading Cavall, Arthur's own dog. And all the warriors
ranged themselves around the Nyver. And there came
there the three sons of Cleddyf Divwlch, men who had
gained much fame at the slaying of Yskithyrwyn Pen-
baedd ; and they went on from Glyn Nyver, and came to
Cwm Kerwyn.

And there Twrch Trwyth made a stand, and slew four
of Arthur's champions, — Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw,
and Tarawc of Allt Clwydd, and Rheidwn the son of Eli
Atver, and Iscovan Hael. And after he had slain these
men he made a second stand in the same place. And
there he slew Gwydre the son of Arthur, and Garselit
Wyddel, and Glew the son of Ysgawd, and Iscawyn the
son of Panon ; and there he himself was wounded

And the next morning, before it was day, sor;,c of the
men came up with him. And he slew Huandaw and
Gogigwr and Penpingon, three attendants upon Glew-
Iwyd Gavaelvawr, so that Heaven knows he had not an
attendant remaining, excepting only Llaesgevyn, a man

Kilhwch and Olwen. 85

from whom no one ever derived any good. And together
with these he slew many of the men of that country, and
Gwlydyn Saer, Arthur's chief architect.

Then Arthur overtook him at Pelumyawc ; and there he
slew Madawc the son of Teithyon, and Gwyn the son
of Tringad, the son of Neved, and Eiryawn Penllorau.
Thence he went to Aberteivi, where he made another
stand, and where he slew Kyflas the son of Kynan, and
Gwilenhin, King of France. Then he went as far as Glyn
Ystu, and there the men and the dogs lost him.

Then Arthur summoned unto him Gwyn ab Nudd, and
he asked him if he knew aught of Twrch Trwyth. And
he said that he did not.

And all the huntsmen went to hunt the swine as far as
Dyffryn Llychwr. And Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwy-
dawg Govynnyad closed with them, and killed all the
huntsmen ; so that there escaped but one man only. And
Arthur and his hosts came to the place where Grugyn
and Llwydawg were. And there he let loose the whole
of the dogs upon them ; and with the shout and barking
that was set up Twrch Trwyth came to their assistance.

And from the time that they came across the Irish Sea
Arthur had never got sight of him until then. So he set
men and dogs upon him, and thereupon he started off, and
went to Mynydd Amanw. And there one of his young
pigs was killed. Then they set upon him life for life, and
Twrch Llawin was slain ; and then there was slain another
of the swine, Gwys was his name. After that, he went

86 The Boy's Mabinogion.

on to Dyffryn Amanw, and there Banw and Bennwig were
killed. Of all his pigs, there went with him alive from
that place none save Grugyn Gwallt Ereint and Llwy-
dawg Govynnyad.

Thence he went on to Llwch Ewin ; and Arthur over-
took him there, and he made a stand. And there he slew
Echel Forddwytwll, and Garwyli the son of Gwyddawg
Gwyr, and many men and dogs likewise. And thence
they went to Llwch Tawy. Grugyn Gwrych Ereint parted
from them there, and went to Din Tywi. And thence
he proceeded to Ceredigiawn, and Eli and Trachmyr with
him, and a multitude likewise. Then he came to Garth
Gregyn, and there Llwydawg Govynnyad fought in the
midst of them, and slew Rhudvyw Rhys and many others
with him. Then Llwydawg went thence to Ystrad Yw ;
and there the men of Armorica met him, and there he
slew Hirpeissawg, the King of Armorica, and Llygatrudd
Emys, and Gwrbothu, Arthur's uncles, his mother's broth-
ers ; and there was he himself slain.

Twrch Trwyth went from there to between Tawy and
Euyas. And Arthur summoned all Cornwall and Devon
unto him, to the estuary of the Severn ; and he said to the
warriors of this island, "Twrch Trwyth has slain many
of my men, but by the valor of warriors while I live he
shall not go into Cornwall. And I will not follow him
any longer, but I will oppose him life to life. Do ye as ye
will."

And he resolved that he would send a body of knights,

Kilhwch and O liven. 87

with the dogs of the island, as far as Euyas, who should
return thence to the Severn, and that tried warriors
should traverse the island, and force him into the Sev-
ern. And Mabon, the son of Modron, came up with
him at the Severn, upon Gwynn Mygddon, the horse of
Gweddw, and Goreu the son of Custennin, and Menw the
son of Teirgwaedd. This was betwixt Llyn Lliwan and
Aber Gwy. And Arthur fell upon him together with the
champions of Britain. And Osla Kyllellvawr drew near,
and Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and Kacmwri the ser-
vant of Arthur, and Gwyngelli ; and they seized hold of
him, catching him first by his feet, and plunged him in
the Severn, so that it overwhelmed him. On the one side
Mabon the son of Modron spurred his steed, and snatched
his razor from him ; and Kyledyr Wyllt came up with him
on the other side, upon another steed, in the Severn, and
took from him the scissors. But before they could obtain
the comb, he had regained the ground with his feet, and
from the moment that he reached the shore, neither dog,
nor man, nor horse could overtake him until he came to
Cornwall. If they had had trouble in getting the jewels
from him, much more had they in seeking to save the two
men from being drowned. Kacmwri, as they drew him
forth, was dragged by two millstones into the deep. And
as Osla Kyllellvawr was running after the boar, his knife
had dropped out of the sheath, and he had lost it ; and
after that, the sheath became full of water, and its weight
drew him down into the deep as they were drawing him
forth.

88 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Then Arthur and his hosts proceeded, until they overtook
the boar in Cornwall ; and the trouble which they had met
with before was mere play to what they encountered in
seeking the comb. But from one difficulty to another, the
comb was at length obtained. And then he was hunted
from Cornwall, and driven straight forward into the deep
sea. And thenceforth it was never known whither he
went, and Aned and Aethlem with him. Then went
Arthur to Gelliwic in Cornwall, to anoint himself, and to
rest from his fatigues.

Said Arthur, " Is there any one of the marvels yet un-
obtained ? "

Said one of his men, " There is, — the blood of the witch
Orddu, the daughter of the witch Owen of Penn Nant
Govid, on the confines of Hell."

Arthur set forth tov/ards the North, and came to the
place where was the witch's cave. And Gwyn ab Nudd,
and Gwythyr the son of Greidawl, counselled him to send
Kacmwri and Hygwyd his brother to fight with the witch.
And as they entered the cave, the witch seized upon them,
and she caught Hygwyd by the hair of his head, and threw
him on the floor beneath her. And Kacmwri caught her
by the hair of her head, and dragged her to the earth from
off Hygwyd ; but she turned again upon them both, and
drove them both out with kicks and with cuffs.

And Arthur was wroth at seeing his two attendants
almost slain, and he sought to enter the cave ; but Gwyn
and Gwythyr said unto him, " It would not be fitting or

Kilhwch and Olwen. 89

seemly for us to see thee squabbling with a hag. Let
Hiramreu and Hireidil go to the cave."

So they went. But if great was the trouble of the
first two that went, much greater was that of these two.
And Heaven knows that not one of the four could move
from the spot, until they placed them all upon Llamrei,
Arthur's mare. And then Arthur rushed to the door of
the cave ; and at the door he struck at the witch with
Carnwennan, his dagger, and clove her in twain, so that
she fell in two parts. And Kaw of North Britain took
the blood of the witch, and kept it.

Then Kilhwch set forward, and Goreu, the son of Cus-
tennin, with him, and as many as wished ill to Yspaddaden
Penkawr. And they took the marvels with them to his
court. And Kaw of North Britain came and shaved his
beard, skin, and flesh clean off to the very bone from ear
to ear.

"Art thou shaved, man ?" said Kilhwch.

" I am shaved," answered he.

" Is thy daughter mine now ? "

"She is thine," said he; "but therefor needest thou
not thank me, but Arthur who hath accomplished this for
thee. By my free will thou should'st never have had her ;
for with her I lose my life."

Then Goreu, the son of Custennin, seized him by the
hair of his head, and dragged him after him to the keep,
and cut off his head, and placed it on a stake on the cita-
del. Then they took possession of his castle and of his
treasures.

90 The Boy's Mabinogion.

And Olwen became Kilhwch's bride, and she continued
to be his wife as long as she lived. And the hosts of
Arthur dispersed themselves, each man to his own country.
And thus did Kilhwch obtain Olwen, the daughter of
Yspaddaden Penkawr.

Perediir the Son of Evrawc. 91

PEREDUR1 THE SON OF EVRAWC.

T^ARL EVRAWC owned the earldom of the North.

J — ' And he had seven sons. And Evrawc maintained
himself not so much by his own possessions as by attend-
ing tournaments and wars and combats. And, as it often
befalls those who join in encounters and wars, he was
slain, and six of his sons likewise. Now the name of his
seventh son was Peredur, and he was the youngest of
them. And he was not of an age to go to wars and en-
counters, otherwise he might have been slain as well as
his father and brothers. His mother was a scheming and
thoughtful woman, and she was very anxious concerning
this her only son and his possessions. So she took
counsel with herself to leave the inhabited country, and to
flee to the deserts and unfrequented wildernesses. And
she permitted none to bear her company thither but
women and boys and spiritless men, who were both un-
accustomed and unequal to war and fighting. And none
dared to bring either horses or arms where her son was,
lest he should set his mind upon them. And the youth

1 This " Peredur " is the Welsh original of " Sir Percival " who figures so finely in
the search for the Sangreal along with Sir Galahad and the rest

92 The Boy's Mabinogion.

went daily to divert himself in the forest by flinging sticks
and staves.

And one day they saw three knights coming along the
horse-road on the borders of the forest. And the three
knights were Gwalchmai the son of Gvvyar, and Geneir
Gwystyl, and Owain the son of Urien. And Owain kept
on the track of the knight who had divided the apples in
Arthur's court, whom they were in pursuit of.

" Mother," said Peredur, "what are those yonder? "

" They are angels, my son," said she.

"By my faith," said Peredur, " I will go and become an
angel with them." And Peredur went to the road, and
met them.

" Tell me, good soul," said Owain, " sawest thou a
knight pass this way either to-day or yesterday ? "

" I know not," answered he, " what a knight is."

" Such an one as I am," said Owain.

" If thou wilt tell me what I ask thee, I will tell thee
that which thou askest me."

" Gladly will I do so," replied Owain.

" What is this ? " demanded Peredur, concerning the
saddle.

" It is a saddle," said Owain.

Then he asked about all the accoutrements which he
saw upon the men, and the horses, and the arms, and
what they were for, and how they were used.

And Owain showed him all these things fully, and told
him what use was made of them.

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 93

" Go forward," said Peredur, " for I saw such an one as
thou inquirest for, and I will follow thee."

Then Peredur returned to his mother and her company,
and he said to her, " Mother, those were not angels, but
honorable knights."

Then his mother swooned away. And Peredur went to
the place where they kept the horses that carried fire-
wood, and that brought meat and drink from the inhabited
country to the desert. And he took a bony, piebald
horse, which seemed to him the strongest of them ; and he
pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and with twisted
twigs he imitated the trappings which he had seen upon
the horses. And when Peredur came again to his mother,
the countess had recovered from her swoon.

" My son," said she, " desirest thou to ride forth ?"

" Yes, with thy leave," said he.

" Wait, then, that I may counsel thee before thou
goest."

" Willingly," he answered. " Speak quickly."

" Go forward, then," she said, " to the court of Arthur,
where there are the best and the boldest and the most
bountiful of men. And wherever thou seest a church, re-
peat there thy Paternoster unto it. And if thou see meat
and drink, and have need of them, and none have the kind-
ness or the courtesy to give them to thee, take them thy-
self. If thou hear an outcry, proceed towards it, especially
if it be the outcry of a woman. If thou see a fair jewel,
possess thyself of it, and give it to another ; for thus thou

94 The Boy's Mabinogion.

shalt obtain praise. If thou see a fair woman, pay thy
court to her, whether she will or no ; for thus thou wilt
render thyself a better and more esteemed man than thou
wast before."

After this discourse, Peredur mounted the horse, and,
taking a handful of sharp-pointed forks in his hand, he
rode forth. And he journeyed two days and two nights
in the woody wildernesses and in desert places, without
food and without drink. And then he came to a vast wild
wood ; and far within the wood he saw a fair even glade,
and in the glade he saw a tent, and, the tent seeming to
him to be a church, he repeated his Paternoster to it.
And he went towards it, and the door of the tent was
open. And a golden chair was near the door. And or.
the chair sat a lovely auburn-haired maiden, with a golden
frontlet on her forehead, and sparkling stones in the front-
let, and with a large gold ring on her hand. And Peredur
dismounted, and entered the tent. And the maiden was
glad at his coming, and bade him welcome. At the
entrance of the tent he saw food, and two flasks full of
wine, and two loaves of fine wheaten flour, and collops of
the flesh of the wild boar. " My mother told me," said
Peredur, "wheresoever I saw meat and drink, to take it."

"Take the meat, and welcome, chieftain," said she.

So Peredur took half of the meat and of the liquor him-
self, and left the rest to the maiden. And, when Peredur
had finished eating, he bent upon his knee before the
maiden. " My mother," said he, " told me, wheresoever
I saw a fair jewel, to take it."

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 93

" Do so, my soul," said she.

So Peredur took the ring. And he mounted his horse,
and proceeded on his journey.

After this, behold the knight came to whom the tent
belonged ; and he was the lord of the glade. And he
saw the track of the horse, and he said to the maiden,
"Tell me who has been here since I departed."

"A man," said she, "of wonderful demeanor." And
she described to him what Peredur's appearance and
conduct had been.

"Tell me," said he, "did he offer thee any wrong."

"No," answered the maiden, "by my faith, he harmed
me not."

" By my faith, I do not believe thee ; and, until I can
meet with him and revenge the insult he has done me
and wreak my vengeance upon him, thou shalt not remain
two nights in the same' house." And the knight arose,
and set forth to seek Peredur.

Meanwhile Peredur journeyed on towards Arthur's
court And before he reached it, another knight had
been there, who gave a ring of thick gold at the door of
the gate for holding his horse, and went into the hall
where Arthur and his household, and Gwenhwyvar and
her maidens, were assembled. And the page of the
chamber was serving Gwenhwyvar with a golden goblet.
Then the knight dashed the liquor that was therein upon
her face, and upon her stomacher, and gave her a violent
blow on the face, and said, " If any have the boldness to

96 The Boy's Mabinogion.

dispute this goblet with me, and to revenge the insult to
Gwenhwyvar, let him follow me to the meadow, and there
I will await him."

So the knight took his horse, and rode to the meadow.
And all the household hung down their heads, lest any
of them should be requested to go and avenge the insult
to Gwenhwyvar. For it seemed to them that no one
would have ventured on so daring an outrage, unless he
possessed such powers, through magic or charms, that
none could be able to take vengeance upon him. Then,
behold, Peredur entered the hall upon the bony piebald
horse with the uncouth trappings upon it, and in this
way he traversed the whole length of the hall. In the
centre of the hall stood Kai.

"Tell me, tall man," said Peredur, "is that Arthur,
yonder ? "

" What wouldest thou with Arthur ? " asked Kai.

" My mother told me to go to Arthur, and receive the
honor of knighthood."

"By my faith," said he, "thou art all too meanly
equipped with horse and with arms."

Thereupon he was perceived by all the household, and
they threw sticks at him. Then, behold, a dwarf came
forward. He had already been a year at Arthur's court,
both he and a female dwarf. They had craved harborage
of Arthur, and had obtained it ; and during the whole
year neither of them had spoken a single word to any one.
When the dwarf beheld Peredur, "Haha!" said he, "the

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 97

welcome of Heaven be unto thee, goodly Peredur, son of
Evrawc, the chief of warriors, and flower of knighthood."

"Truly," said Kai, "thou art ill taught to remain a year
mute at Arthur's court, with choice of society, and now
before the face of Arthur and all his household, to call
out, and declare such a man as this the chief of warriors
and the flower of knighthood." And he gave him such
a box on the ear that he fell senseless to the ground.

Then exclaimed the female dwarf, " Haha, goodly Pere-
dur, son of Evrawc ! The welcome of Heaven be unto
thee, flower of knights, and light of chivalry."

"Of a truth, maiden," said Kai, "thou art ill bred to
remain mute for a year at the court of Arthur, and then
to speak as thou dost of such a man as this." And Kai
kicked her with his foot, so that she fell to the ground
senseless.

"Tall man," said Peredur, "show me which is Arthur."

" Hold thy peace ! " said Kai, " and go after the knight
who went hence to the meadow, and take from him the
goblet, and overthrow him, and possess thyself of his
horse and arms, and then thou shalt receive the order of
knighthood."

" I will do so, tall man," said Peredur. So he turned
his horse's head towards the meadow. And when he
came there, the knight was riding up and down, proud of
his strength and valor and noble mien.

"Tell me," said the knight, "didst thou see any one
coming after me from the court ? "

The Boy's Mabinogion.

The tall man that was there," said he, "desired me
to come and overthrow thee, and to take from thee the
goblet and thy horse and thy armor for myself."

"Silence!" said the knight. "Go back to the court,
and tell Arthur, from me, either to come himself, or to
send some other to fight with me ; and, unless he do so
quickly, I will not wait for him."

"By my faith," said Peredur ! "choose thou whether
it shall be willingly or unwillingly ; but I will have the
horse and the arms and the goblet."

And upon this the knight ran at him furiously, and
struck him a violent blow with the shaft of his spear
between the neck and the shoulder.

"Haha, lad!" said Peredur. "My mother's servants
were not used to play with me in this wise : therefore,
thus will I play with thee." And thereupon he struck
him with a sharp-pointed fork, and it hit him in the eye
and came out at the back of his neck, so that he instantly
fell down lifeless.

"Verily," said Owain the son of Urien to Kai, "thou
wert ill advised when thou didst send that madman after
the knight ; for one of two things must befall him. He
must either be overthrown, or slain. If he is overthrown
by the knight, he will be counted by him to be an honora-
ble person of the court ; and an eternal disgrace will it be
to Arthur and his warriors. And if he is slain, the dis-
grace will be the same, and, moreover, his sin will be upon
him: therefore will I go to see what has befallen him."

Percdur the Son of Evrawc. 99

So Owain went to the meadow, and he found Peredur
dragging the man about. "What art thou doing thus?"
said Owain.

" This iron coat," said Peredur, " will never come from
off him ; not by my efforts, at any rate."

And Owain unfastened his armor and his clothes.
" Here, my good soul," said he, " is a horse and armor
better than thine. Take them joyfully, and come with
me to Arthur to receive the order of knighthood ; for thou
dost merit it."

" May I never show my face again, if I go ! " said Pere-
dur. " But take thou the goblet to Gwenhwyvar, and tell
Arthur that wherever I am I will be his vassal and will
do him what profit and service I am able. And say that
I will not come to his court until I have encountered the
tall man that is there, to revenge the injury he did to the
dwarf and dwarfess."

And Owain went back to the court, and related all
these things to Arthur and Gwenhwyvar, and to all the
household.

And Peredur iode forward. And as he proceeded, be-
hold a knight met him.

" Whence comest thou ? " said the knight.

" I come from Arthur's court," said Peredur.

" Art thou one of his men ? " asked he.

"Yes, by my faith ! " he answered.

" A good service, truly, is that of Arthur."

"Wherefore sayest thou so?" said Peredur.

ioo The Boy's Mabinogion.

" I will tell thee," said he. " I have always been
Arthur's enemy, and all such of his men as I have ever
encountered I have slain."

And without further parlance they fought, and it was
not long before Peredur brought him to the ground over
his horse's crupper. Then the knight besought his mercy.

"Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, "if thou wilt
make oath to me that thou wilt go to Arthur's court, and
tell him that it was I that overthrew thee for the honor
of his service, and say that I will never come to the
court until I have avenged the insult offered to the dwarf
and dwarf ess."

The knight pledged him his faith of this, and proceeded
to the court of Arthur, and said as he had promised, and
conveyed the threat to Kai.

And Peredur rode forward. And within that week he
encountered sixteen knights, and overthrew them all
shamefully. And they all went to Arthur's court, taking
with them the same message which the first knight had
conveyed from Peredur, and the same threat which he
had sent to Kai. And thereupon Kai was reproved by
Arthur ; and Kai was greatly grieved thereat.

And Peredur rode forward. And he came to a vast
and desert wood on the confines of which was a lake.
And on the other side was a fair castle. And on the bor-
der of the lake he saw a venerable, hoary-headed man, sit-
ting upon a velvet cushion, and having a garment of velvet
upon him. And his attendants were fishing in the lake

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 101

When the hoary-headed man beheld Peredur approaching,
he arose, and went towards the castle. And the old man
was lame. Peredur rode to the palace ; and the door was
open, and he entered the hall. And there was the hoary-
headed man sitting on a cushion, and a large blazing fire
burning before him. And the household and the company
arose to meet Peredur, and disarrayed him. And the man
asked the youth to sit on the cushion ; and they sat down
and conversed together. When it was time, the tables
were laid, and they went to meat. And when they had
finished their meal, the man inquired of Peredur if he
knew well how to fight with the sword.

"I know not," said Peredur; "but were I to be taught,
doubtless I should."

"Whoever can play well with the cudgel and shield will
also be able to fight with a sword."

And the man had two sons : the one had yellow hair,
and the other auburn.

"Arise, youths," said he, "and play with the cudgel and
the shield." And so did they. "Tell me, my soul," said
the man, "which of the youths thinkest thou plays best."

"I think," said Peredur, "that the yellow-haired youth
could draw blood from the other, if he chose."

"Arise thou, my life, and take the cudgel and the shield
from the hand of the youth with the auburn hair, and draw
blood from the yellow-haired youth if thou canst."

So Peredur arose, and went to play with the yellow-
haired youth ; and he lifted up his arm, and struck him

4O2 The Boy's Mabinogion.

such a mighty blow that his brow fell over his eye, and
the blood flowed forth.

"Ah, my life," said the man, "come now, and sit down ;
for thou wilt become the best fighter with the sword of
any in this island. And I am thy uncle, thy mother's
brother. And with me shalt thou remain a space in order
to learn the manners and customs of different countries,
and courtesy, and gentleness, and noble bearing. Leave,
then, the habits and the discourse of thy mother, and I
will be thy teacher ; and I will raise thee to the rank of
knight from this time forward. And thus do thou. If
thou seest aught to cause thee wonder, ask not the mean-
ing of it : if no one has the courtesy to inform thee, the
reproach will not fall upon thee, but upon me that am thy
teacher."

And they had abundance of honor and service. And
when it was time they went to sleep. At the break of
day Peredur arose and took his horse, and with his
uncle's permission he rode forth. And he came to a vast
desert wood, and at the further end of the wood was a
meadow, and on the other side of the meadow he saw a
large castle. And thitherward Peredur bent his way, and
he found the gate open, and he proceeded to the hall.
And he beheld a stately hoary-headed man sitting on one
side of the hall, and many pages around him, who arose
to receive and to honor Peredur. And they placed him
by the side of the owner of the palace. Then they dis-
coursed together; and when it was time to eat, they

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 103

caused Peredur to sit beside the nobleman during the
repast. And when they had eaten and drunk as much as
they desired, the nobleman asked Peredur whether he
could fight with a sword.

" Were I to receive instruction," said Peredur, " I think
I could."

Now, there was on the floor of the hall a huge staple,
as large as a warrior could grasp.

"Take yonder sword," said the man to Peredur, "and
strike the iron staple."

[Then] Peredur arose, and struck the staple so that
he cut it in two ; and the sword broke into two parts also.

" Place the two parts together, and re-unite them."

And Peredur placed them together, and they became
entire as they were before. And a second time he struck
upon the staple so that both it and the sword broke in
two, and as before they re-united. And the third time he
gave a like blow, and placed the broken parts together,
and neither the staple nor the sword would unite as
before.

" Youth," said the nobleman, "come now, and sit down,
and my blessing be upon thee. Thou tightest best with
the sword of any man in the kingdom. Thou hast arrived
at two-thirds of thy strength, and the other third thou
hast not yet obtained ; and when thou attainest to thy full
power none will be able to contend with thee. I am thy
uncle, thy mother's brother, and I am brother to the man
in whose house thou wast last night."

The Boy's Mabinogion.

Then Peredur and his uncle discoursed together, and
he beheld two youths enter the hall and proceed up to
the chamber, bearing a spear of mighty size, with three
streams of blood flowing from the point to the ground.
And when all the company saw this they began wailing
and lamenting. But for all that the man did not brea-i
off his discourse with Peredur. And as he did not tell
Peredur the meaning of what he saw, he forbore to ask
him concerning it. And when the clamor had a little
subsided, behold, two maidens entered, with a large salver
between them, in which was a man's head, surrounded by
a profusion of blood. And thereupon the company of the
court made so great an outcry that it was irksome to be
in the same hall with them. But at length they were
silent. And, when time was that they should sleep, Pere-
dur was brought into a fair chamber.

And the next day, with his uncle's permission, he rode
forth. And he came to a wood, and far within the wood
he heard a loud cry, and he saw a beautiful woman with
auburn hair, and a horse with a saddle upon it standing
near her, and a corpse by her side. And as she strove
to place the corpse upon the horse it fell to the ground,
and thereupon she made a great lamentation.

"Tell me, sister," said Peredur, "wherefore art thou
bewailing ? "

" Oh, accursed Peredur ! little pity has my ill fortune
ever met with from thee."

"Wherefore," said Peredur, "am I accursed?"

Peredur tJie Son of Evrawc. 105

" Because thou wast the cause of thy mother's death ;
for, when thou didst ride forth against her will, anguish
seized upon her heart so that she died ; and therefore art
thou accursed. And the dwarf and the dwarfess that
thou sawest at Arthur's court were the dwarfs of thy
father and mother. And I am thy foster-sister, and this
was my wedded husband, and he was slain by the knight
that is in the glade in the wood. And do not thou go
near him, lest thou shouldest be slain by him likewise."

" My sister, thou dost reproach me wrongfully. Through
my having so long remained amongst you, I shall scarcely
vanquish him ; and, had I continued longer, it would
indeed be difficult for me to succeed. Cease, therefore,
thy lamenting, for it is of no avail. And I will bury the
body, and then I will go in quest of the knight, and see
if I can do vengeance upon him."

And when he had buried the body, they went to the
place where the knight was, and found him riding proudly
along the glade ; and he inquired of Peredur whence he
came.

" I come from Arthur's court."

" And art thou one of Arthur's men ? "

" Yes, by my faith ! "

"A profitable alliance truly, is that of Arthur."

And without further parlance they encountered one
another ; and immediately Peredur overthrew the knight,
and he besought mercy of Peredur.

" Mercy shalt thou have," said he, " upon these terms :

io6 The Boy's Mabinogion.

that them take this woman in marriage, and do her all the
honor and reverence in thy power, seeing thou hast, with-
out cause, slain her wedded husband ; and that thou go to
Arthur's court, and show him that it was I that over-
threw thee, to do him honor and service ; and that thou
tell him that I will never come to his court again until I
have met with the tall man that is there, to take ven-
geance upon him for his insult to the dwarf and dwarfess."

And he took the knight's assurance that he would per-
form all this. Then the knight provided the lady with a
horse and garments that were suitable for her, and took
her with him to Arthur's court. And he told Arthur all
that had occurred, and gave the defiance to Kai. And
Arthur and all his household reproved Kai for having
driven such a youth as Peredur from his court.

Said Owain the son of Urien, " This youth will never
come into the court until Kai has gone forth from it."

" By my faith ! " said Arthur, " I will search all the des-
erts in the island of Britain until I find Peredur, and
then let him and his adversary do their utmost to each
other."

Then Peredur rode forward. And he came to a desert
wood, where he saw not the track either of men or ani-
mals, and where there was nothing but bushes and weeds.
And at the upper end of the wood he saw a vast castle,
wherein were many strong towers ; and when he came
near the gate he found the weeds taller than he had seen
them elsewhere. And he struck the gate with the shaft

Peredur and the Maiden.

Percdur the Son of Evrawc. 107

of his lance, and thereupon behold a lean auburn-haired
youth came to an opening in the battlements.

"Choose thou, chieftain," said he, "whether shall I
open the gate unto thee, or shall I announce unto those
that are chief, that thou art at the gateway ? "

"Say that I am here," said Peredur, "and, if it is desired
that I should enter, I will go in."

And the youth came back, and opened the gate for
Peredur. And when he went into the hall he beheld
eighteen youths, lean and red-headed, of the same height,
and of the same aspect, and of the same dress, and of the
same age, as the one who had opened the gate for him.
And they were well skilled in courtesy and in service.
And they disarrayed him. Then they sat down to dis-
course. Thereupon, behold five maidens came from the
chamber into the hall. And Peredur was certain that he
had never seen another of so fair an aspect as the chief
of the maidens. And she had an old garment of satin
upon her, which had once been handsome, but was then
so tattered that her skin could be seen through it. And
whiter was her skin than the bloom of crystal ; and her
hair and her two eyebrows were blacker than jet ; and on
her cheeks were two red spots, redder than whatever is
reddest. And the maiden welcomed Peredur, and put
her arms about his neck, and made him sit down beside
her. Not long after this, he saw two nuns enter ; and a
flask full of wine was borne by one, and six loaves of
white bread by the other. " Lady," said they, " Heaven

loS T/te Boy's Mabinogion.

is witness that there is not so much of food and liquoi
as this left in yonder convent this night."

Then they went to meat, and Peredur observed that the
maiden wished to give more of the food and of the liquor
to him than to any of the others.

" My sister," said Peredur, " I will share out the fooc
and the liquor."

" Not so, my soul," said she.

"By my faith but I will ! " So Peredur took the bread
and he gave an equal portion of it to each. [Then, hav
ing eaten, Peredur retired and slept. And in the night]
with the noise of the door opening, Peredur awoke ; and
the maiden was [there] weeping and lamenting.

"Tell me, my sister," said Peredur, "wherefore dost
thou weep ? "

" I will tell thee, lord," said she. " My father possessed
these dominions as their chief, and this palace was his ;
and with it he held the best earldom in the kingdom.
Then the son of another earl sought me of my father, and
I was not willing to be given unto him ; and my father
would not give me against my will, either to him or any
earl in the world. And my father had no child except
myself. And after my father's death these dominions
came into my own hands, and then was I less willing to
accept him than before. So he made war upon me, and
conquered all my possessions except this one house.
And through the valor of the men whom thou hast seen,
who are my foster-brothers, and t'ae ihength of the house,

Percdur the Son of Evrawc. log

it can never be taken while food and drink remain. And
now our provisions are exhausted ; but, as thou hast seen,
we have been fed by the nuns, to whom the country is
free. And at length they also are without supply of food
or liquor. And at no later date than to-morrow the earl
will come against this place with all his forces ; and, if I
fall into his power, my fate will be no better than to be
given over to the grooms of his horses. Therefore, lord,
I am come to offer to place myself in thy hands, that thou
mayest succor me, either by taking me hence, or by de-
fending me here, whichever may seem best unto thee."

"Go, my sister," said he, "and sleep ; nor will I depart
from thee until I do that which thou requirest, or prove
whether I can assist thee or not."

The maiden went again to rest ; and the next morning
she came to Peredur, and saluted him. " Heaven prosper
thee, my soul ; and what tidings dost thou bring ? "

" None other than that the earl and all his forces have
alighted at the gate, and I never beheld any place so cov-
ered with tents, and thronged with knights challenging
others to the combat."

"Truly," said Peredur, "let my horse be made ready."

So l:is horse was accoutre-!, and he arose and sallied
forth to the meadow. And there was a knight riding
proudly along the meadow, having raised the signal for
baUle. And they encountered ; and Peredur threw the
knight over his horse's crupper to the ground. And at
the close of the clay one of the chief knights came to fight

no The Boy's Mabinogion.

with him, and he overthrew him also, so that he besought
his mercy.

" Who art thou ? " said Peredur.

" Verily," said he, " I am master of the household to
the earl."

"And how much of the countess's possessions is there
in thy power ? "

"The third part verily," answered he.

"Then," said Peredur, "restore to her the third of her
possessions in full, and all the profit thou hast made by
them, and bring meat and drink for a hundred men, with
their horses and arms, to her court this night. And thou
shalt remain her captive unless she wish to take thy life."

And this he did forthwith. And that night the maiden
was right joyful, and they fared plenteously.

And the next day Peredur rode forth to the meadow ;
and that day he vanquished a multitude of the host. And
at the close of the day there came a proud and stately
knight ', and Peredur overthrew him, and he besought his
mercy.

" Who art thou ? " said Peredur.

" I am steward of the palace," said he.

" And how much of the maiden's possessions are under
thy control ? "

" One-third part," answered he.

" Verily," said Peredur, " thou shalt fully restore to the
maiden her possessions ; and, moreover, thou shalt give
her meat apd drink for two hundred men, and their

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. in

horses and their arms. And, for thyself, thou shalt be
her captive."

And immediately it was so done.

And the third day Peredur rode forth to the meadow ;
and he vanquished more that day than on either of the
preceding. And at the close of the day an earl came to
encounter him, and he overthrew him, and he besought
his mercy.

"Who art thou ? " said Peredur.

" I am the earl," said he. " I will not conceal it from
thee."

"Verily," said Peredur, "thou shalt restore the whole
of the maiden's earldom, and shalt give her thine own
earldom in addition thereto, and meat and drink for three
hundred men, and their horses and arms, and thou thyself
shalt remain in her power."

And thus it was fulfilled. And Peredur tarried three
weeks in the country, causing tribute and obedience to be
paid to the maiden, and the government to be placed in
her hands.

" With thy leave," said Peredur, " I will go hence."

" Verily, my brother, desirest thou this ? "

" Yes, by my faith. And had it not been for love of
thee, I should not have been here thus long."

" My soul," said she, " who art thou ? "

" I am Peredur the son of Evrawc, from the North ;
and, if ever thou art in trouble or in danger, acquaint me
therewith, and if I can I will protect thee."

112 The Boy's Mabinogion.

So Peredur rode forth. And far thence there met him
a lady, mounted on a horse that was lean and covered
with sweat. And she saluted the youth.

" Whence comest thou, my sister ? "

Then she told him the cause of her journey. Now she
was the wife of the lord of the glade.

" Behold," said he, " I am the knight through whom
thou art in trouble, and he shall repent it who has treated
thee thus."

Thereupon, behold, a knight rode up, and he inquired of
Peredur if he had seen a knight such as he was seeking.

"Hold thy peace," said Peredur. " I am he whom thou
seekest. And by my faith thou deservest ill of thy house-
hold for thy treatment of the maiden, for she is innocent

concerning me."

So they encountered ; and they were not long in combat
ere Peredur overthrew the knight, and he besought his
mercy.

" Mercy thou shalt have," said Peredur, " so thou wilt
return by the way thou earnest, and declare that thou
boldest the maiden innocent, and so that thou wilt ac-
knowledge unto her the reverse thou hast sustained at
mv hands."

J

And the knight plighted him his faith thereto.

Then Peredur rode forward. And above him he beheld
a castle, and thitherward he went. And he struck upon
the gate with his lance, and then, behold, a comely auburn -
haired youth opened the gate, and he had the stature of a

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 113

warrior, and the years of a boy. And when Peredur came
into the hall, there was a tall and stately lady sitting in a
chair, and many handmaidens around her ; and the lady
rejoiced at his coming. And when it was time they went
to meat. And after their repast was finished, " It were
well for thee, chieftain," said she, "to go elsewhere to
sleep."

"Wherefore can I not sleep here?" said Peredur.

" Nine sorceresses are here, my soul, of the sorceresses
of Gloucester, and their father and their mother are with
them ; and unless we can make our escape before day-
break we shall be slain ; and already they have conquered
and laid waste all the country except this one dwelling."

"Behold," said Peredur, "I will remain here to-night,
and if you are in trouble I will do you what service I can ;
but harm shall you not receive from me."

So they went to rest. And with the break of day
Peredur heard a dreadful outcry. And he hastily arose,
and went forth in his vest and his doublet, with his sword
about his neck ; and he saw a sorceress overtake one of
the watch, who cried out violently. Peredur attacked the
sorceress, and struck her upon the head with his sword so
that he flattened her helmet and her headpiece like a dish
upon her head

" Thy mercy, goodly Peredur, son of Evrawc, and the
mercy of Heaven ! "

" How knowest thou, hag, that I am Peredur ? "

"By destiny, and the foreknowledge that I should suffei

H4 The Boy's Mabinogion.

harm from thee. And thou shalt take a horse and armor
of me, and with me thou shalt go to learn chivalry and
the use of thy arms."

Said Peredur, "Thou shalt have mercy, if thou pledge
Uiy faith thou wilt never more injure the dominions of the
countess."

And Peredur took surety of this, and with permission
of the countess he set forth with the sorceress to the
palace of the sorceresses. And there he remained for
three weeks, and then he made choice of a horse and
arms, and went his way.

And in the evening he entered a valley, and at the head
of the valley he came to a hermit's cell, and the hermit
welcomed him gladly ; and there he spent the night. And
in the morning he arose ; and when he went forth, behold,
a shower of snow had fallen the night before, and a hawk
had killed a wild fowl in front of the cell. And the noise
of the horse scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted
upon the bird. And Peredur stood, and compared the
blackness of the raven and the whiteness of the snow
and the redness of the blood, to the hair of the lady that
best he loved which was blacker than jet, and to her skin
which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots
upon her cheeks which were redder than the blood upon
1 he snow appeared to be.

Now Arthur and his household were in search of Peredur.
" Know ye," said Arthur, " who is the knight with the long
spear, that stands by the brook up yonder ? "

Peredur tJte Son of Evrawc. 115

" Lord," said one of them, " I will go and learn who he
is." So the youth came to the place where Peredur was,
and asked him what he did thus, and who he was. And
from the intensity with which he thought upon the lady
whom best he loved, he gave him no answer. Then the
youth thrust at Peredur with his lance ; and Peredur turned
upon him, and struck him over his horse's crupper to the
ground. And after this, four and twenty youths came to
him, and he did not answer one more than another, but
gave the same reception to all, bringing them with one
single thrust to the ground. And then came Kai, and
spoke to Peredur rudely and angrily. And Peredur took
him with his lance under the jaw, and cast him from him
with a thrust, so that he broke his arm and his shoulder-
blade, and he rode over him one and twenty times. And
while he lay thus, stunned with the violence of the pain
that he had suffered, his horse returned back at a wild and
prancing pace. And when the household saw the horse
come back without his rider, they rode forth in haste lo
the place where the encounter had been. And when they
first came there they thought that Kai was slain ; but they
found that if he had a skilful physician he yet might live.
And Peredur moved not from his meditation, on seeing
the concourse that was around Kai. And Kai was brought
to Arthur's tent, and Arthur caused skilful physicians to
come to him. And Arthur was grieved that Kai had met
with this reverse, for he loved him greatly.

"Then," said Gwalchmai, "it is not fitting that any

n6 The Boy's Mabinogion.

should disturb an honorable knight from his thought
unadvisedly ; for either he is pondering some damage
that he has sustained, or he is thinking of the lady whom
best he loves. And through such ill-advised proceeding
perchance this misadventure has befallen him who last
met with him. And if it seem well to thee, lord, I will
go and see if this knight has changed from his thought ;
and, if he has, I will ask him courteously to come and
visit thee."

Then Kai was wrath, and he spoke angry and spiteful
words. " Gwalchmai," said he, " I know that thou wilt
bring him because he is fatigued. Little praise and honor,
nevertheless, wilt thou have from vanquishing a weary
knight who is tired with fighting. Yet thus hast thou
gained the advantage over many. And, while thy speech
and thy soft words last, a coat of thin linen were armor
sufficient for thee, and thou wilt not need to break either
lance or sword in fighting with the knight in the state he

is in.'!

Then said Gwalchmai to Kai, "Thou mightest use more
pleasant words, wert thou so minded ; and it behooves thee
not upon me to wreak thy wrath and thy displeasure.
Methinks I shall bring the knight hither with me without
breaking either my arm or my shoulder."

Then said Arthur to Gwalchmai, "Thou speakest like
a wise and prudent man. Go, and take enough of armor
about thee, and choose thy horse."

And Gwalchmai accoutred himself, and rode forward
tastily to the place where Peredur was.

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 117

And Peredur was resting on the shaft of his spear,
pondering the same thought ; and Gwalchmai came to
him without any signs of hostility, and said to him, " If
I thought that it would be as agreeable to thee as it
would be to me, I would converse with thee. I have also
a message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come
and visit him. And two men have been before on this
errand."

" That is true," said Peredur, " and uncourteously they
came. They attacked me, and I was annoyed thereat ; for
it was not pleasing to me to be drawn from the thought
that I was in, for I was thinking of the lady whom best I
love, and thus was she brought to my mind : I was look-
ing upon the snow, and upon the raven, and upon the
drops of the blood of the bird that the hawk had killed
upon the snow ; and I bethought me that her whiteness
was like that of the snow, and that the blackness of her
hair and her eyebrows was like that of the raven, and that
the two red spots upon her cheeks were like the two drops
of blood."

Said Gwalchmai, "This was not an ungentle thought,
and I should marvel if it were pleasant to thee to be
drawn from it."

" Tell me," said Peredur, " is Kai in Arthur's court ? "

" He is," said he. " And, behold, he is the knight that
fought with thee last, and it would have been better for
him had he not come ; for his arm and his shoulder-blade
were broken with the fall which he had from thy spear."

n8 The Boy's Mabinogion.

"Verily," said Peredur, "I am not sorry to have thus
begun to avenge the insult to the dwarf and dwarfess."

Then Gwalchmai marvelled to hear him speak of the
dwarf and the dwarfess. And he approached him, and
threw his arms around his neck, and asked him what was
his name.

"Peredur the son of Evrawc am I called," said he.
" And thou — who art thou ? "

" I am called Gwalchmai," he replied.

" I am right glad to meet with thee," said Peredur ;
" for in every country where I have been I have heard of
thy fame for prowess and uprightness, and I solicit thy
fellowship."

" Thou shalt have it, by my faith ; and grant me thine,"
said he.

"Gladly will I do so," answered Peredur.

So they rode forth together joyfully towards the place
where Arthur was ; and, when Kai saw them coming, he
said, "I knew that Gwalchmai needed not to fight the
knight. And it is no wonder that he should gain fame :
more can he do by his fair words than I by the strength
of my arm."

And Peredur went with Gwalchmai to his tent, and
they took off their armor. And Peredur put on garments
like those that Gwalchmai wore, and they went together
unto Arthur, and saluted him.

"Behold, lord," said Gwalchmai, "him whom thou hast
sought so long."

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. \ \ 9

" Welcome unto thee, chieftain ! " said Arthur. " With
me thou shalt remain ; and, had I known thy valor had
been such, thou shouldst not have left me as thou didst.
Nevertheless, this was predicted of thee by the dwarf and
the dwarfess, whom Kai ill treated, and whom thou hast
avenged."

And hereupon, behold, there came the queen and her
handmaidens ; and Peredur saluted them. And they were
rejoiced to see him, and bade him welcome. And Arthur
did him great honor and respect. And they returned
towards Caerlleon.

And the first night Peredur came to Caerlleon, to
Arthur's court, and, as he walked in the city after his
repast, behold, there met him Angharad Law Eurawc.

" By my faith, sister," said Peredur, " thou art a beau-
teous and lovely maiden ; and were it pleasing to thee I
could love thee above all women."

" I pledge my faith," said she, " that I do not love thee ;
nor will I ever do so."

"I also pledge my faith," said Peredur, "that I will
never speak a word to any Christian again until thou
come to love me above all men."

The next day Peredur went forth by the high road,
along a mountain-ridge, and he saw a valley of a circular
form, the confines of which were rocky and wooded. And
the flat part of the valley was in meadows, and there
were fields betwixt the meadows and the wood. And in
the bosom of the wood he saw large black houses of

I2O The Boy's Mabinogion.

uncouth workmanship. And he dismounted, and led his
horse towards the wood. And a little way within the
wood he saw a rocky ledge, along which the road lay.
And upon the ledge was a lion bound by a chain, and
sleeping. And beneath the lion he saw a deep pit of
immense size, full of the bones of men and animals
And Peredur drew his sword, and struck the lion, so that
he fell into the mouth of the pit, and hung there by the
chain ; and with a second blow he struck the chain, and
broke it ; and the lion fell into the pit. And Peredur led
his horse over the rocky ledge until he came into the
valley. And in the centre of the valley he saw a fair
castle, and he went towards it. And in the meadow by
the castle he beheld a huge gray man sitting, who was
larger than any man he had ever before seen. And two
young pages were shooting the hilts of their daggers, of
the bone of the seahorse. And one of the pages had red
hair, and the other auburn. And they went before him
to the place where the gray man was, and Peredur saluted
him. And the gray man said, " Disgrace to the beard of
my porter ! " Then Peredur understood that the porter
was the lion. And the gray man and the pages went
together into the castle, and Peredur accompanied them ;
and he found it a fair and noble place. And they pro-
ceeded to the hall, and the tables were already laid, and
upon them was abundance of food and liquor. And there-
up >n he saw an aged woman and a young woman come
from the chamber; and they were the most stately women

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 1 2 1

he had evei seen. Then they washed and went to meat.
And the gray man sat in the upper seat at the head of the
table, and the aged woman next to him. And Peredur
and the maiden were placed together, and the two young
pages served them. And the maiden gazed sorrowfully
upon Peredur, and Peredur asked the maiden wherefore
she was sad.

" For thee, my soul ; for, from when I first beheld thee,
I have loved thee above all men. And it pains me to
know that so gentle a youth as thou should have such a
doom as awaits thee to-morrow. Sawest thou the numer-
ous black houses in the bosom of the wood ? All these
belong to the vassals of the gray man yonder, who is my
father. And they are all giants. And to-morrow they
will rise up against thee, and will slay thee. And the
Round Valley is this valley called."

" Listen, fair maiden : wilt thou contrive that my horse
and arms be in the same lodging with me to-night ? ':

"Gladly will I cause it so to be, by Heaven, if I can."

And when it was time for them to sleep rather than to
carouse they went to rest. And the maiden caused Pere-
dur's horse and arms to be in the same lodging with him.
And the next morning Peredur heard a great tumult of
men and horses around the castle. And Peredur arose,
and armed himself and his horse, and went to the meadow.
Then the aged woman and the maiden came to the gray
man. "Lord," said they, "take the word of the youth
that he will never disclose what he his seen in this place,
and we will be his sureties that ^ ieep it."

122

The Boys Mabinogion.

« I will not do so, by my faith," said the gray man.

So Peredur fought with the host ; and towards evening
he had slain the one-third of them without receiving any
hurt himself. Then said the aged woman, " Behold, many
of thy host have been slain by the youth : do thou, there-
fore, grant him mercy."

" I will not grant it, by my faith," said he.

And the aged woman and the fair maiden were upon
the battlements of the castle, looking forth. And at that
juncture Peredur encountered the yellow-haired youth, and

slew him.

" Lord," said the maiden, " grant the young man mercy."

" That will I not do, by Heaven," he replied.

And thereupon Peredur attacked the auburn-haired
youth, and slew him likewise.

"It were better thou hadst accorded mercy to the
youth before he had slain thy two sons ; for now scarcely
wilt thou thyself escape from him."

"Go, maiden, and beseech the youth to grant mercy
unto us, for we yield ourselves into his hands."

So the maiden came to the place where Peredur was,
and besought mercy for her father, and for all such of his
vassals as had escaped alive.

" Thou shalt have it on condition that thy father and
all that are under him go and render homage to Arthur,
and tell him that it was his vassal Peredur that did him
this service."

" This will we do willingly, by Heaven."

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. \ 2 i

•J O

"And you shall also receive baptism. And I will send
to Arthur, and beseech him to bestow this valley upon
thee and upon thy heirs after thee forever."

Then they went in; and the gray man and the tall
woman saluted Peredur. And the gray man said unto
him, " Since I have possessed this valley, I have not seen
any Christian depart with his life, save thyself. And we
will go to do homage to Arthur, and to embrace the faith,
and be baptized."

Then said Peredur, " To Heaven I render thanks that
I have not broken my vow to the lady that best I love,
which was, that I would not speak one word unto any
Christian."

That night they tarried there. And the next day, it
the morning, the gray man, with his company, set forth
to Arthur's court. And they did homage unto Arthur,
and he caused them to be baptized. And the gray man
told Arthur that it was Peredur that had vanquished them.
And Arthur gave the valley to the gray man and his com-
pany, to hold it of him as Peredur had besought. And
with Arthur's permission the gray man went back to the
Round Valley.

Peredur rode forward next day, and he traversed a vast
tract of desert in which no dwellings were. And at
length he came to a habitation mean and small,
there he heard that there was a serpent that lay upon a
gold ring and suffered none to inhabit the country
seven miles around. And Peredur came to the place

124 The Boy's Mabinogion.

where he heard the serpent was. And angrily, furiously,
and desperately fought he with the serpent ; and at last
he killed it, and took away the ring. And thus he was
for a long time without speaking a word to any Christian.
And therefrom he lost his color and his aspect, through
extreme longing after the court of Arthur, and the society
of the lady whom best he loved, and of his companions.
Then he proceeded forward to Arthur's court ; and on the
road there met him Arthur's household going on a par-
ticular errand, with Kai at their head. And Peredur knew
them all ; but none of the household recognized him.

" Whence comest thou, chieftain ? " said Kai. And this
he asked him twice and three times, and he answered him
not. And Kai thrust him through the thigh with his
lance. And lest he should be compelled to speak, and to
break his vow, he went on without stopping.

"Then," said Gwalchmai, "I declare to Heaven, Kai,
that thou hast acted ill in committing such an outrage on
a youth like this, who cannot speak."

And Gwalchmai returned back to Arthur's court
'Lady," said he to Gwenhwyvar, "seest thou how wicked
an outrage Kai has committed upon this youth who can-
not speak. For Heaven's sake and for mine, cause him to
have medical cave before I come back, and I will repay
thee the charge."

And before the men returned from their errand, a knight
came to the meadow beside Arthur's palace, to dare some
one to the encounter. And his challenge was accepted ;

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 1 2 5

and Peredur fought with him, and overthrew him. And
for a week he overthrew one knight every day.

And one day Arthur and his household were going to
church, and they beheld a knight who had raised the sig-
nal for combat. "Verily," said Arthur, "by the valor
of men I will not go hence until I have my horse and my
arms to overthrow yonder boor." Then went the attend-
ants to fetch Arthur's horse and arms. And Peredur met
the attendants as they were going back, and he took the
horse and arms from them, and proceeded to the meadow,
and all those who saw him arise and go to do battle with
the knight went upon the tops of the houses, and the
mounds, and the high places, to behold the combat. And
Peredur beckoned with his hand to the knight to commence
the fight. And the knight thrust at him ; but he was not
thereby moved from where he stood. And Peredur spurred
his horse, and ran at him wrathfully, furiously, fiercely,
desperately, and with mighty rage, and he gave him a
thrust, deadly-wounding, severe, furious, adroit, and strong
under his jaw, and raised him out of his saddle, and cast
him a long way from him. And Peredur went back, and
left the horse and the arms with the attendant as before,
and he went on foot to the palace.

Then Peredur went by the name of the Dumb Youth.
And, behold, Angharad Law Eurawc met him. "I de-
clare to Heaven, chieftain," said she, "woful is it that
thou canst not speak; for, couldst thou speak, I would
love thee best of all men. And, by my faith, although
thou canst not, I do love thee above all."

126 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" Heaven reward thee, my sister," said Peredur. ' Bj
my faith I also do love thee." Thereupon it was known
that he was Peredur. And then he held fellowship with
Gwalchmai, and Owain the son of Urien, and all the
household ; and he remained in Arthur's court.

Arthur was in Caerlleon-upon-Usk ; and he went to
hunt, and Peredur went with him. And Peredur let loose
his dog upon a hart, and the dog killed the hart in a desert
place. And a short space from him he saw signs of a
dwelling, and towards the dwelling he went, and he
beheld a hall, and at the door of the hall he found bald
swarthy youths playing at chess. And when he entered
he beheld three maidens sitting on a bench, and they were
all clothed alike, as became persons of high rank. And
he came and sat by them upon the bench ; and one of
the maidens looked steadfastly upon Peredur, and wept.
And Peredur asked her wherefore she was weeping.

"Through grief that I should see so fair a youth as
thou art slain."

"Who will slay me ? " inquired Peredur.

" If thou art so daring as to remain here to-night, I will
tell thee."

" How great soever my danger may be from remaining
here, I will listen unto thee."

' This palace is owned by him who is my father," said
the maiden; "and he slays every one who comes hither
without his leave."

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. \ 2 7

' What sort of a man is thy father, that he is able to
slay every one thus ? "

" A man who does violence and wrong unto his neigh-
bors, and who renders justice unto none."

And hereupon he saw the youths arise, and clear the
chessmen from the board. And he heard a great tumult.
And after the tumult there came in a huge black one-eyed
man, and the maidens arose to meet him. And they dis-
arrayed him, and he went and sat down. And after he
had rested and pondered a while, he looked at Peredur,
and asked who the knight was.

" Lord," said one of the maidens, " he is the fairest and
gentlest youth that ever thou didst see. And for the
sake of Heaven and of thine own dignity, have patience
with him."

" For thy sake I will have patience, and I will grant
him his life this night."

Then Peredur came towards them to the fire, and par-
took of food and liquor, and entered into discourse with
the ladies. And, being elated with the liquor, he said to
the black man, " It is a marvel to me, so mighty as thou
sayest thou art, who could have put out thine eye."

"It is one of my habits," said the black man, "that
whosoever puts to me the question which thou hast asked
shall not escape with his life, either as a free gift or for a

price."

"Lord," said the maiden, "whatsoever he may say to
thee in jest, and through the excitement of liquor, make

I28 The Boy's Mabinogion.

cood that which thou saidst, and didst promise me just

now."

" I will do so gladly, for thy sake," said he. "Willingly
will I grant him his life this night."

And that night thus they remained.

And the next day the black man got up, and put on his
armor, and said to Peredur, "Arise, man, and suffer
death."

And Peredur said unto him, "Do one of two things,
black man : if thou wilt fight with me, either throw off
thy own armor, or give arms to me, that I may encounter
thee."

" Ha, man ! " said he. " Couldst thou fight if thou hadst
arms ? Take, then, what arms thou dost choose."

And thereupon the maiden came to Peredur with such
arms as pleased him ; and he fought with the black man,
and forced him to crave his mercy.

" Black man, thou shalt have mercy, provided thou tell
me who thou art, and who put out thine eye."

" Lord, I will tell thee. I lost it in fighting with the
black serpent of the earn. There is a mound which is
called the Mound of Mourning ; and on the mound there
is a earn, and in the earn there is a serpent, and on the
tail of the serpent there is a stone, and the virtues of the
stone are such, that whosoever should hold it in one hand,
in the other he will have as much gold as he may desire.
And in fighting with this serpent was it that I lost my
eye. And the Black Oppressor am I called. And for

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 129

this reason I am called the Black Oppressor, that there is
not a single man around me whom I have not oppressed;
and justice have I done unto none."

" Tell me," said Peredur, " how far is it hence ? "

"The same day that thou settest forth, thou wilt come
to the palace of the Sons of the King of the Tortures."

" Wherefore are they called thus ? "

" The Addanc of the lake slays them once every day.
When thou goest thence, thou wilt come to the court of
the Countess of the Achievements."

"What achievements are there?" asked Peredur.

" Three hundred men there are in her household, and
unto every stranger that comes to the court the achieve-
ments of her household are related. And this is the
manner of it, — the three hundred men of the household
sit next unto the lady, and that not through disrespect
unto the guests, but that they may relate the achieve-
ments of the household. And the day that thou goest
thence, thou wilt reach the Mound of Mourning ; and
round about the mound there are the owners of three
hundred tents guarding the serpent."

" Since thou hast, indeed, been an oppressor so long,"
said Peredur, "I will cause that thou continue so no
longer." So he slew him.

Then the maiden spoke, and began to converse with
him. " If thou wast poor when thou earnest here, hence-
forth thou wilt be rich through the treasure of the black
man whom thou hast slain. Thou seest the many lovely

The Boy's Mabinogion.

maidens that there are in this court : thou shalt have her
whom thou best likest for the lady of thy love "

" Lady, I came not hither from my country to woo ; but
match yourselves as it liketh you with the comely youths
I see here. And none of your goods do I desire ; for I
need them not." Then Peredur rode fonvard, and he
came to the palace of the Sons of the King of the Tor.
tures. And when he entered the palace he saw none but
women ; and they rose up, and were joyful at his coming ;
and, as they began to discourse with him, he beheld a
charger arrive, with a saddle upon it and a corpse in the
saddle. And one of the women arose, and took the corpse
from the saddle, and anointed it in a vessel of warm water
which was below the door, and placed precious balsam
upon it. And the man rose up alive, and came to the
place where Peredur was, and greeted him, and was joyful
to see him. And two other men came in upon their
saddles ; and the maiden treated these two in the same
manner as she had done the first. Then Peredur asked
the chieftain wherefore it was thus. And they told him
that there was an Addanc in a cave, which slew them
once every day. And thus they remained that night.

And next morning the youths arose to sally forth, and
Peredur besought them, for the sake of the ladies of their
love, to permit him to go with them; but they refused
him, saying, " If thou shouldst be slain there, thou hast
none to bring thee back to life again."

And they rode forward, and Peredur followed after

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 1 3 i

them ; and, after they had disappeared out of his sight, he
came to a mound, whereon sat the fairest lady he had
ever beheld.

" I know thy quest," said she. " Thou art going to en-
counter the Addanc, and he will slay thee, and that not
by courage, but by craft. He has a cave, and at the
entrance of the cave there is a stone pillar, and he sees
every one that enters, and none see him ; and from
behind the pillar he slays every one with a poisonous
dart. And, if thou wouldst pledge me thy faith to love
me above all women, I would give thee a stone by which
thou shouldst see him when thou goest in, and he should
not see thee."

" I will, by my troth," said Peredur; "for, when first I
beheld thee, I loved thee. And where shall I seek thee ? "

"When thou seekest me, seek towards India." And
the maiden vanished, after placing the stone in Peredur's
hand.

And he came towards a valley, through which ran a
river ; and the borders of the valley were wooded, and on
each side of the river were level meadows. And on one
side of the river he saw a flock of white sheep, and on the
other a flock of black sheep. And whenever one of the
white sheep bleated, one of the black sheep would cross
over and become white ; and, when one of the black sheep
bleated, one of the white sheep would cross over and
become black. And he saw a tall tree by the side of the
river, one half of which was m flames from the root to

The Boy's Mabinogion.

the top, and the other half was green and in full leal
And nigh thereto he saw a youth sitting upon a mound,
and two greyhounds, white-breasted and spotted, in
leashes, lying by his side. And certain was he that he
had never seen a youth of so royal a bearing as he. And
in the wood opposite he heard hounds raising a herd of
deer. And Peredur saluted the youth, and the youth
greeted him in return. And there were three roads lead-
ing from the mound : two of them were wide roads, and
the third was more narrow. And Peredur inquired where
the three roads went.

" One of them goes to my palace," said the youth ;
"and one of two things I counsel thee to do, — either to
proceed to my palace, which is before thee, and where
thou wilt find my wife, or else remain here to see the
hounds chasing the roused deer from the wood to the
plain. And thou shalt see the best greyhounds thou
didst ever behold, and the boldest in the chase, kill them
by the water beside us. And when it is time to go to
meat, my page will come with my horse to meet me, and
thou shalt rest in my palace to-night."

" Heaven reward thee. But I cannot tarry, for onward
must I go."

' The other road leads to the town, which is near here,
and wherein food and liquor may be bought. And the
road which is narrower than the others goes towards the
cave of the Addanc."

'With thy permission, young man, I will go that way."

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 133

And Peredur went towards the cave. And he took the
stone in his left hand, and his lance in his right. And as
he went in he perceived the Addanc, and he pierced him
through with his lance, and cut off his head. And, as he
came from the cave, behold, the three companions were at
the entrance ; and they saluted Peredur, and told him
that there was a prediction that he should slay that mon-
ster. And Peredur gave the head to the young men, and
they offered him in marriage whichever of the three
sisters he might choose, and half their kingdom with her.

"I came not hitherto woo," said Peredur; "but if, per-
adventure, I took a wife, I should prefer your sister to all
others." And Peredur rode forward, and he heard a noise
behind him. And he looked back, and saw a man upon
a red horse, with red armor upon him. And the man
rode up by his side, and saluted him, and wished him the
favor of Heaven and of man. And Peredur greeted the
youth kindly.

" Lord, I come to make a request unto thee."

"What would'st thou ? "

"That thou should'st take me as thine attendant."

" Whom, then, should I take as my attendant, if I did

so ? "

"I will not conceal from thee what kindred I am of.
Et'.ym Gleddyv Coch am I called, an earl from the East
Country."

" I marvel that thou should'st offer to become attend-
ant to a man whose possessions are no greater than thine

The Boy's Mabinogion.

9wn; for I have but an earldom like thyself. But,, since
thou desirest to be my attendant, I will take thee

joyfully."

And they went forward to the court of the countess,
and ali they of the court were glad at their coming ; and
they were told it was not through disrespect they were
placed below the household, but that such was the usage
of the court. For whoever should overthrow the three
hundred men of her household would sit next the count-
ess, and she would love him above all men. And Peredur,
having overthrown the three hundred men of her house-
hold, sat down beside her ; and the countess said, " I
thank Heaven that I have a youth so fair and so valiant
as thou, since I have not obtained the man whom best I
love."

"Who is he whom best thou lovest ? "

" By my faith, Etlym Gleddyv Coch is the man whom I
love best, and I have never seen him."

" Of a truth, Etlym is my companion ; and, behold, here
he is, and for his sake did I come to joust with thy house-
hold. And he could have done so better than I, had it
pleased him. And I do give thee unto him."

" Heaven reward thee, fair youth, and I will take the
man whom I love above all others." And the countess
became Etlym's bride from that moment.

And the next day Peredur set forth towards the Mound
of Mourning.

'"By thy hand, lord, but I will go with thee," said

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 135

Etlym. Then they went forward till they came in sight
of the mound and the tents.

"Go unto yonder men," said Peredur to Etlym, "and
desire them to come and do me homage."

So Etlym went unto them, and said unto them thus :
"Come and do homage to my lord."'

" Who is thy lord ? " said they.

" Peredur with the long lance is my lord," said Etlym.

"Were it permitted to slay a messenger, thou shouldest
not go back to thy lord alive, for making unto kings and
earls and barons so arrogant a demand as to go and do
him homage."

Peredur desired him to go back to them, and to give
them their choice, either to do him homage or to do
battle with him. And they chose rather to do battle.
And that day Peredur overthrew the owners of a hundred
tents ; and the next day he overthrew the owners of a
hundred more ; and the third day the remaining hundred
took counsel to do homage to Peredur. And Peredur
inquired of them wherefore they were there. And they
told him they were guarding the serpent until he should
die. " For then should we fight for the stone among our-
selves, and whoever should be conqueror among us would
have the stone."

" Await here," said Peredur, "and I will go to encountei

the serpent."

"Not so, lord," said they: "we will go all together to
encounter the serpent."

The Boys Mabinogion.

"Verily," said Peredur, "that will I not permit; for if
the serpent be slain I shall derive no more fame there-
from than one of you." Then he went to the place where
the serpent was, and slew it, and came back to them, and
said, "Reckon up what you have spent since you have
been here, and I will repay you to the full." And he
paid to each what he said was his claim. And he required
of them only that they should acknowledge themselves
his vassals. And he said to Etlym, "Go back unto her
whom thou lovest best, and I will go forward, and I will
reward thee for having been my attendant." And he
gave Etlym the stone.

"Heaven repay thee and prosper thee," said Etlym.

And Peredur rode thence, and he came to the fairest
valley he had ever seen, through which ran a river; and
there he beheld many tents of various colors. And he
marvelled still more at the number of water-mills and of
windmills that he saw. And there rode up with him a
tall auburn-haired man in a workman's garb; and Peredur
inquired of him who he was.

"I am the chief miller," said he, "of all the mills
yonder."

' Wilt thou give me lodging ? " said Peredur.

"I will, gladly," he answered.

And Peredur came to the miller's house, and the miller
had a fair and pleasant dwelling. And Peredur asked
money as a loan from the miller, that he might buy meat
and liquor for himself and for the household, and he

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 1 3 7

promised that he would pay him again ere he went
thence. And he inquired of the miller wherefore such a
multitude was there assembled.

Said the miller to Peredur, " One thing is certain :
either thou art a man from afar, or thou art beside thyself.
The Empress of Cristinobyl the Great is here ; and she
will have no one but the man who is most valiant ; for
riches does she not require. And it was impossible to
bring food for so many thousands as are here, therefore
were all these mills constructed."

And that night they took their rest.

And the next day Peredur arose, and he equipped him-
self and his horse for the tournament. And among the
other tents he beheld one which was the fairest he had
ever seen. And he saw a beauteous maiden leaning her
head out of a window of the tent, and he had never seen
a maiden more lovely than she. And upon her was a
garment of satin. And he gazed fixedly on the maiden,
and began to love her greatly. And he remained there,
gazing upon the maiden from morning until mid-day, and
from mid-day until evening; and then the tournament
was ended, and he went to his lodging, and drew off his
armor. Then he asked money of the miller as a loan,
£nd the miller's wife was wroth with Peredur : neverthe-
less, the miller lent him the money. And the next day
he did in like manner as he nad done the day before.
And at night he came to his lodging, and took money as
a loan from the miller. And the third day, as he was in

The Boy's Mabinogion.

the same place, gazing upon the maiden, he felt a hard
blow between the neck and the shoulder, from the edge
of an axe. And when he looked behind him, he saw that
it was the miller ; and the miller said to him, " Do one of
two things : either turn thy head from hence, or go to
the tournament."

And Peredur smiled on the miller, and went to the
tournament ; and all that encountered him that day he
overthrew. And as many as he vanquished he sent as a
gift to the empress ; and their horses and arms he sent
as a gift to the wife of the miller in payment of the bor-
rowed money. Peredur attended the tournament until all
were overthrown, and he sent all the men to the prison of
the empress, and the horses and arms to the wife of the
miller in payment of the borrowed money. And the
empress sent to the Knight of the Mill to ask him to
come and visit her. And Peredur went not for the first
nor for the second message. And the third time she sent
a hundred knights to bring him against his will, and they
went to him and told him their mission from the empress.
And Peredur fought well with them, and caused them to
be bound like stags, and thrown into the mill-dike. And
the empress sought advice of a wise man who was in her
counsel; and he said to her, "With thy permission I will
go to him myself." So he came to Peredur and saluted
him, and besought him for the sake of the lady of his
love to come and visit the empress. And they went,
together with the miller. And Peredur went and sat

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 139

down in the outer chamber of the tent, and she came and
placed herself by his side. And there was but little: dis-
course between them. And Peredur took his leave, and
went to his lodging.

And the next day he came to visit her, and, whf.n he
came into the tent, there was no one chamber less r.eco-
rated than the others. And they knew not where he
would sit. And Peredur went and sat beside the empress,
and discoursed with her courteously. And while they
were thus, they beheld a black man enter, with a goblet
full of wine in his hand. And he dropped upon his knee
before the empress, and besought her to give it to no one
who would not fight with him for it. And she looked
upon Peredur.

"Lady," said he, "bestow on me the goblet." And
Peredur drank the wine, and gave the goblet to the
miller's wife. And while they were thus, behol'i, there
entered a black man of larger stature than tho other,
with a wild beast's claw in his hand, wrought fnto the
form of a goblet and filled with wine. And he presented
it to the empress, and besought her to give it to no one
but the man who would fight him. "Lady," said Pere-
dur, " bestow it on me." And she gave it to him. And
Peredur drank the wine, and sent the goblet to the wife
of the miller. And while they were thus, behold, a rough-
looking crisp-haired man, taller than either of the others,
came in with a bowl in his hand full of wine ; and he
bent upon his knee, and gave it into the hands of the

I4o The Boys Mabinogion. ^

empress, and he besought her to give it to none but him
who would fight with him for it ; and she gave it to Pere-
dur, and he sent it to the miller's wife. And that night
Peredur returned to his lodging ; and the next day he
accoutred himself and his horse, and went to the meadow,
and slew the three men. Then Peredur proceeded to the
tent; and the empress said to him, "Goodly Peredur,
remember the faith thou didst pledge me when I gave
thee the stone, and thou didst kill the Addanc."

" Lady," answered he, " thou sayest truth : I do remem-
ber it."

And Peredur was entertained by the empress fourteen

years, as the story relates.

Arthur was at Caerlleon-upon-Usk, his principal palace ;
and in the centre of the floor of the hall were four men
sitting on a carpet of velvet, — Owain the son of Urien,
and Gwalchmai the son of Gwyar, and Howel the son of
Emyr Llydaw, and Peredur of the long lance. And there-
apon they saw a black curly-headed maiden enter, riding
apon a yellow mule, with jagged thongs in her hand to
urge it on, and having a rough and hideous aspect. Blacker
were her face and her two hands than the blackest iron
covered with pitch ; and her hue was not more frightful
than her form. High cheeks had she, and a face length-
ened downwards, and a short nose with distended nostrils.
And one eye was of a piercing mottled gray, and the other
was as black as jet, deep sunk in her head. And her

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 141

teeth were long and yellow, — more yellow were they than
the flower of the broom. And her back was in the shape
of a crook. And her figure was very thin and spare, ex-
cept her feet, which were of huge size. And she greeted
Arthur and all his household, except Peredur. And to
Peredur she spoke harsh and angry words. " Peredur, I
greet thee not, seeing that thou dost not merit it. Blind
was Fate in giving thee fame and favor. When thou wast
in the court of the Lame King, and didst see there the
youth bearing the streaming spear from the points of
which were drops of blood flowing in streams even to the
hand of the youth, and many other wonders likewise, thou
didst not inquire their meaning nor their cause. Hadst
thou done so, the king would have been restored to health,
and his dominions to peace. Whereas from henceforth
he will have to endure battles and conflicts, and his
knights will perish, and wives will be widowed, and
maidens will be left portionless, and all this is because of
thee." Then said she unto Arthur, "May it please thee,
lord, my dwelling is far hence, in the stately castle of
which thou hast heard, and therein are five hundred and
sixty-six knights of the order of chivalry, and the luJy
whom best he loves with each ; and whoever would acquire
fame in arms and encounters and conflicts, he will <r
it there, if he deserve it. And whoso would reach the
summit of fame and of honor, I know where he may find
it. There is a castle on a lofty mountain, and a mai Icn
[is] therein, and she is a prisoner ; and whoever shall set

The Boy's Mabinogion.

her free will attain the summit of the fame of the world.
And thereupon she rode away.

Said Gwalchmai, "By my faith I will not rest tran-
quilly until I have proved if I can release the maiden."
And many of Arthur's household joined themselves with
him.

Then likewise said Peredur, "By my faith I will not
rest tranquilly until I know the story, and the meaning of
the lance whereof the black maiden spoke."

And, while they were equipping themselves, behold a
knight came to the gate. And he had the size and
strength of a warrior, and was equipped with arms and
habiliments. And he went forward, and saluted Arthur
and all his household, except Gwalchmai. And the knight
had upon his shoulder a shield ingrained with gold, with a
fesse of azure blue upon it, and his whole armor was of
the same hue. And he said to Gwalchmai, " Thou didst
slay my lord by thy treachery and deceit, and that will I
prove upon thee."

Then Gwalchmai rose up. "Behold," said he, "here
is my gage against thee, to maintain, either in this place
or wherever else thou wilt, that I am not a traitor or
deceiver."

"Before the king whom I obey, will I that my en-
counter with thee take place," said the knight.

" Willingly," said Gwalchmai. "Go forward, and I will
follow thee."

So the knight went forth, and Gwalchmai accoutred

Percdur tJic Son of Evrawc. 143

himself; and there was offered unto him abundance of
armor, but he would take none but his own. And when
Gwalchmai and Peredur were equipped, they set forth to
follow him, by reason of their fellowship and of the great
friendship that was between them. And they did not gc
after him in company together ; but each went his own
way.

At the dawn of day Gwalchmai came to a valley, and in
the valley he saw a fortress, and within the fortress a vast
palace, and lofty towers around it. And he beheld a knight
coming out to hunt from the other side, mounted on a
spirited black snorting palfrey, that advanced at a pran
cing pace, proudly stepping and nimbly bounding and
sure of foot ; and this was the man to whom the palace
belonged. And Gwalchmai saluted him.

"Heaven prosper thee, chieftain," said he ; "and whence
comest thou ? "

" I come," answered Gwalchmai, " from the court ol
Arthur."

"And art thou Arthur's vassal ? "

"Yes, by my faith," said Gwalchmai.

"I will give thee good counsel," said the knight
see that thou art tired and weary : go unto my palace, if
it may please thee, and tarry there to-night.'

"Willingly, lord," said he, "and Heaven reward thee ! "

" Take this ring as a token to the porter, and go for
ward to yonder tower, and therein thou wilt find m>
sister."

The Boys Mabinogion

And Gwalchmai went to the gate, and showed the ring,
and proceeded to the tower. And on entering he beheld
a large blazing fire, burning without smoke and with a
bright and lofty flame, and a beauteous and stately maiden
was sitting on a chair by the fire. And the maiden was
glad at his coming, and welcomed him, and advanced to
meet him. And he went and sat beside the maiden, and
they took their repast. And, when their repast was over,
they discoursed pleasantly together. And while they were
thus, behold, there entered a venerable hoary-headed man.
"Ah, base girl!" said he, "if thou did'st think that it
was right for thee to entertain and to sit by yonder man,
thou would'st not do so." And he withdrew his head,
and went forth.

"Ah, chieftain ! " said the maiden, "if thou wilt do as I
counsel thee, thou wilt shut the door, lest the man should
have a plot against thee."

Upon that Gwalchmai arose ; and when he came near
unto the door the man with sixty others fully armed
was ascending the tower. And Gwalchmai defended the
door with a chessboard, that none might enter until the
man should return from the chase.

And thereupon, behold, the earl arrived. " What is all
this ? " asked he.

" It is a sad thing," said the hoary-headed man. "The
young girl yonder has been sitting and eating with him
who slew your father. He is Gwalchmai, the son of
Gwyar."

Peredur the Son of Eviawc.

" Hold thy peace, then," said the earl : "I will go in."
And the earl was joyful concerning Gwalchmai. "Ha,
chieftain ! " said he, "it was wrong of thee to come to my
court when thou knewest that thou didst slay my father ;
and, though we cannot avenge him, Heaven will avenge
him upon thee."

"My soul," said Gwalchmai, "thus it is. I came not
here either to acknowledge or to deny having slain thy
father ; but I am on a message from Arthur, and there-
fore do I crave the space of a year until I shall return
from my embassy, and then, upon my faith, I will come
back unto this palace, and do one of two things, — either
acknowledge it, or deny it." And the time was granted
him willingly ; and he remained there that night. And
the next morning he rode forth. And the story relates
nothing further of Gwalchmai respecting this adventure.

And Peredur rode forward. And he wandered over the
whole island, seeking tidings of the black maiden, and he
could meet with none. [And after many days, and great
deeds of arms and perilous adventures, at last Peredur
met with a certain maiden, and asked her the way to the
Castle of Wonders.] Then she said to him, "Go over
yonder mountain, and thou wilt find a lake, and in the
middle of the lake there is a castle, and that is the castle
that is called the Castle of Wonders. And we know not
what wonders are therein, but thus is it called.'1

And Peredur proceeded towards the castle, and the gate
of the castle was open. And when he came to the hall,

The Boy's Mabinogion.

the door was open, and he entered. And he beheld a
chessboard in the hall, and the chessmen were playing
against each other by themselves. And the side that he
favored lost the game, and thereupon the others set up a
shout as though they had been living men. And Peredur
was wroth, and took the chessmen in his lap, and cast the
chessboard into the lake. And when he had done thus,
behold, the black maiden came in ; and she said to him,
" The welcome of Heaven be not unto thee. Thou hadst
rather do evil than good."

"What complaint hast thou against me, maiden ?" said
Peredur.

" That thou hast occasioned unto the empress the loss
of her chessboard, which she would not have lost for all
her empire. And the way in which thou mayest recover
the chessboard is to repair to the Castle of Ysbidinongyl,
where is a black man who lays waste the dominions of
the empress ; and, if thou canst slay him, thou wilt recover
the chessboard. But, if thou goest there, thou wilt not
return alive."

"Wilt thou direct me thither ? " said Peredur.

" I will show thee the way," she replied.

So he went to the Castle of Ysbidinongyl, and he fought
with the black man. And the black man besought mercy
of Peredur.

"Mercy will I grant thee," said he, "on condition that
thou cause the chessboard to be restored to the place
where it was when I entered the hall."

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 147

Then the maiden came to him, and said, " The maledic-
tion of Heaven attend thee for thy work, since thou hast
left that monster alive who lays waste all the possessions
of the empress."

"I granted him his life," said Peredur, "that he might
cause the chessboard to be restored."

" The chessboard is not in the place where thou didst
find it : go back, therefore, and slay him," answered she.

So Peredur went back, and slew the black man. And
when he returned to the palace, he found the black maiden
there.

"Ah, maiden ! " said Peredur, "where is the empress ? "

" I declare to Heaven that thou wilt not see her now,
unless thou dost slay the monster that is in yonder forest.'

"What monster is there ?"

"It is a stag that is as swift as the swiftest bird ; and
he has one horn in his forehead, as long as the shaft of a
spear, and as sharp as whatever is sharpest. And he
destroys the branches of the best trees in the forest, and
he kills every animal that he meets with therein; and
those that he doth not slay perish of hunger. And, what
is worse than that, he comes every night and drinks up
the fish-pond and leaves the fishes exposed, so that for
the most purt they die before the water returns again."

" Maiden," said Peredur, " wilt thou come and show me

this animal ? "

"Not so," said the maiden; "for he has not permitted
any mortal tc enter the forest for above a twelvemonth

I48 The Boys Mabinogion.

_— — — '

Behold, here is a little dog belonging to the empress,
which will rouse the stag, and will chase him towards
thee, and the stag will attack thee."

Then the little dog went as a guide to Peredur, and
roused the stag, and brought him towards the place where
Peredur was. And the stag attacked Peredur, and he let
him pass by him, and, as he did so, he smote off his head
with his sword. And, while he was looking at the head of
the stag, he saw a lady on horseback coming towards him.
And she took the little dog in the lappet of her cap, and
the head and the body of the stag lay before her. And
around the stag's neck was a golden collar.

"Ha, chieftain!" said she, " uncourteously hast thou
acted in slaying the fairest jewel that was in my do-

minions."

" I was entreated so to do. And is there any way by
which I can obtain thy friendship ? "

"There is," she replied. "Go thou forward unto
yonder mountain, and there thou wilt find a grove;
and in the grove there is a cromlech : do thou there
challenge a man three times to fight, and thou shalt
have my friendship."

So Peredur proceeded onward, and came to the side of
the grove, and challenged any man to fight. And a black
man arose from beneath the cromlech, mounted upon a
bony horse, and both he and his horse were clad in huge
rusty armor. And they fought. And as often as Peredur
cast the black man to the earth he would jump again

Peredur the Son of Evrawc. 149

into his saddle. And Peredur dismounted, and drew his
sword ; and thereupon the black man disappeared with
Peredur's horse and his own, so that he could not gain
sight of him a second time. And Peredur went along
the mountain, and on the other side of the mountain he
beheld a castle in the valley, wherein was a river. And
he went to the castle ; and as he entered it he saw a hall,
and the door of the hall was open, and he went in. And
there he saw a lame gray-headed man sitting on one side
of the hall, with Gwalchmai beside him. And Peredur
beheld his horse, which the black man had taken, in the
same stall with that of Gwalchmai. And they were glad
concerning Peredur. And he went and seated himself on
the other side of the hoary-headed man. Then, behold a
yellow-haired youth came, and bent upon the knee before
Peredur, and besought his friendship. " Lord," said the
youth, " it was I that came in the form of the black maiden
to Arthur's court, and when thou didst throw down the
chessboard, and when thou didst slay the black man of
Ysbidinongyl, and when thou didst slay the stag, and
when thou didst go to fight the black man of the crom-
lech. And I came with the bloody head in the salver,
and with the lance that streamed with blood from the
point to the har \, all along the shaft ; and the head was
thy cousin's, and he was killed by the sorceresses of Glou-
cester, who also lamed thine uncle ; and I am thy cousin.
And there is a prediction that thou art to avenge these
things."

/5<D The Boy's Mabinogion.

Then Peredur and Gwalchmai took counsel, and sent to
Arthur and his household to beseech them to come against
the sorceresses. And they began to fight with them ; and
one of the sorceresses slew one of Arthur's men before
Peredur's face, and Peredur bade her forbear. And the
sorceress slew a man before Peredur's face a second time,
and a second time he forbade her. And the third time the
sorceress slew a man before the face of Peredur ; and then
Peredur drew his sword, and smote the sorceress on the
helmet ; and all her head-armor was split in two parts.
And she set up a cry, and desired the other sorceresses
to flee, and told them that this was Peredur, the man who
had learnt chivalry with them, and by whom they were
destined to be slain. Then Arthur and his household
fell upon the sorceresses, and slew the sorceresses of
Gloucester, every one. And thus is it related concerning
the Castle of Wonders.

The Dream of Rhonabwy. 1 5 1

THE DREAM OF RHONABWY.

TV /TADAWC the son of Maredudd possessed Powys
IVX within its boundaries, from Porfoed to Gwauan in
the uplands of Arwystli. And at that time he had a
brother lorwerth the son of Maredudd, in rank not equal
to himself. And lorwerth had great sorrow and heavi-
ness because of the honor and power that his brother
enjoyed, which he shared not. And he sought his fellows
and his foster-brothers, and took counsel with them what
he should do in this matter. And they resolved to de-
spatch some of their number to go and seek a maintenance
for him. Then Maclawc offered him to become master of
the household, and to have horses and arms and honor,
and to fare like as himself. But lorwerth refused this.

And lorwerth made an inroad into Loegria, slaying
the inhabitants, and burning houses, and carrying away
prisoners. And Madawc took counsel with the men of
Powys, and they determined to place an hundred men in
each of the three Commots of Powys to seek for him.
And they spread these men over the plains as far as
Nillystwn Trevan.

Now one of the men who was upon this quest was called
Rhonabwv. And Rhonabwy and Kynwrig Vrychgoch, a

The Boy's Mabinogion.

man of Mawddwy, and Cadwgan Vras, a man of Moelvre
in Kynlleith, came together to the house of Heilyn Goch,
the son of Cadwgan the son of Iddon. And when they
came near to the house, they saw an old hall, very black
and having an upright gable, whence issued a great smoke ;
and on entering, they found the floor full of puddles and
mounds ; and it was difficult to stand thereon, so slippery
was it with the mire of cattle. And where the puddles
were, a man might go up to his ankles in water and dirt.
And there were boughs of holly spread over the floor,
whereof the cattle had browsed the sprigs. When they
came to the hall of the house, they beheld cells full of
dust, and very gloomy, and on one side an old hag making
a fire. And whenever she felt cold, she cast a lapful of
chaff upon the fire, and raised such a smoke, that it was
scarcely to be borne as it rose up the nostrils. And on
the other side was a yellow calf-skin on the floor : a main
privilege was it to any one who should get upon that hide.

And when they had sat down, they asked the hag where
were the people of the house. And the hag spoke not,
but muttered. Thereupon behold the people of the house
entered, — a ruddy, clownish, curly-headed man, with a
burthen of fagots on his back, and a pale, slender woman,
also carrying a bundle under her arm. And they barely
welcomed the men, and kindled a fire with the boughs.
And the woman cooked something, and gave them to eat,
— barley bread, and cheese, and milk and water.

And there arose a storm of wind and rain, so that it was

The Dream of Rhonabwy.

hardly possible to go forth with safety. And being weai >
with their journey, they laid themselves down, and sought
to sleep. And when they looked at the couch, it seemed
to be made but of a little coarse straw full of dust, with
the stems of boughs sticking up there through ; for the
cattle had eaten all the straw that was placed at the head
and the foot. And upon it was stretched an old russet-
colored rug, threadbare and ragged ; and a coarse sheet,
full of slits, was upon the rug, and an ill-stuffed pillow,
and a worn-out cover upon the sheet. And after much
suffering from the discomfort of their couch, a heavy sleep
fell on Rhonabwy's companions. But Rhonabwy, not
being able either to sleep or to rest, thought he should
suffer less if he went to lie upon the yellow calf-skin that
was stretched out on the floor. And there he slept.

As soon as sleep had come upon his eyes, it seemed to
him that he was journeying with his companions across
the plain of Argyngroeg, and he thought that he went
towards Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. As he journeyed,
he heard a mighty noise, the like whereof heard he never
before ; and looking behind him, he beheld a youth with
yellow curling hair, and with his beard newly trimmed,
mounted on a chestnut horse, whereof the legs were gray
from the top of the forelegs, and from the bend of the
hindlegs downwards. And the rider wore a coat of yel-
low satin sewn with green silk ; and on his thigh was a
gold-hilted sword, with a scabbard of new leather of Cor-
dova, belted with the skin of the deer, and clasped with

154 The Boys Mabinogion.

gold. And over this was a scarf of yellow satin wrought
with green silk, the borders whereof were likewise green.
And the green of the caparison of the horse and of his
rider was as green as the leaves of the fir-tree, and the
yellow was as yellow as the blossom of the broom. So
fierce was the aspect of the knight, that fear seized upon
them, and they began to flee. And the knight pursued
them. And when the horse breathed forth, the men be-
came distant from him, and when he drew in his breath,
they were drawn near to him, even to the horse's chest.
And when he had overtaken them, they besought his
mercy.

"You have it gladly," said he : "fear nought"
" Ha, chieftain ! since thou hast mercy upon me, tell me
also who thou art," said Rhonabwy.

" I will not conceal my lineage from thee. I am
Iddawc the son of Mynyo ; yet not by my name, but by
my nickname, am I best known."

"And wilt thou tell us what thy nickname is ? "
" I will tell you. It is Iddawc Cordd Prydain."
" Ha, chieftain ! " said Rhonabwy. " Why art thou
called thus ? "

" I will tell thee. I was one of the messengers between
Arthur and Medrawd his nephew, at the battle of Camlan ;
and I was then a reckless youth, and through my desire
for battle I kindled strife between them, and stirred up
wrath when I was sent by Arthur the emperor to reason
with Medrawd, and to show him that he was his foster

The Dream of Rkonabwy. 155

father and his uncle, and to seek for peace, lest the sons
of the Kings of the Island of Britain and of the nobles
should be slain. And whereas Arthur charged me with
the fairest sayings he could think of, I uttered unto
Medrawd the harshest I could devise. And therefore am
I called Iddawc Cordd Prydain, for from this did the battle
of Camlan ensue. And three nights before the end of the
battle of Camlan I left them, and went to the Llech Las
in North Britain to do penance. And there I remained
doing penance seven years, and after that I gained par-
don."

And they journeyed over the plain of Argyngroeg as
far as the ford of Rhyd y Groes on the Severn. And for
a mile around the ford on both sides of the road they saw
tents and encampments, and there was the clamor of a
mighty host. And they came to the edge of the ford,
and there they beheld Arthur, sitting on a flat island
below the ford, having Bedwini the bishop on one side of
him, and Gwarthegyd the son of Kaw on the other. And
a tall, auburn-haired youth stood before him, with his
sheathed sword in his hand, and clad in a coat and cap of
jet-black satin. And his face was white as ivory, and his
eyebrows black as jet, and such part of his wrist as could
be seen between his glove and his sleeve was whiter than
the lily, and thicker than a warrior's ankle.

Then they beheld another troop coming towards the
ford; and these from their horses' chests upwards were
whiter than the lily, and below blacker than jet. And

The Boy's Mabinogion.

they saw one of these knights go before the rest, and spur
his horse into the ford in such a manner that the water
dashed over Arthur and the bishop, and those holding
counsel with them, so that they were as wet as if they
had been drenched in the river. And as he turned the
head of his horse, the youth who stood before Arthur
struck the horse over the nostrils with his sheathed
sword, so that, had it been with the bare blade, it
would have been a marvel if the bone had not been
wounded as well as the flesh. And the knight drew
his sword half out of the scabbard, and asked of him,
" Wherefore didst thou strike my horse ? Whether was
it in insult, or in counsel unto me ? "

" Thou dost indeed lack counsel. What madness caused
thee to ride so furiously as to dash the water of the ford
over Arthur, and the consecrated bishop, and their coun-
sellors, so that they were as wet as if they had been
dragged out of the river ? "

"As counsel, then, will I take it." So he turned his
horse's head round towards his army.

" Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was yonder knight ? "

'The most eloquent and the wisest youth that is in
this island, — Adaon, the son of Taliesin."

" Who was the man that struck his horse ? "

"A youth of froward nature, -- Elphin, the son of
Gwyddno."

Then Iddawc took Rhonabwy behind him on his horse,
and that mighty host moved forward, each troop in its

The Dream of Rhonabiuy. \ 5 7

order, towards Cevndigoll. And when they came to the
middle of the ford of the Severn, Iddawc turned his
horse's head, and Rhonabwy looked along the valley of
the Severn. And he beheld two fair troops coming
towards the ford. One troop there came of brilliant white,
whereof every one of the men had a scarf of white satin
with jet-black borders. And the knees and the tops of
the shoulders of their horses were jet-black, though they
were of a pure white in every other part. And their ban-
ners were pure white, with black points to them all.

"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who are yonder pure-white
troop ? "

"They are the men of Norway; and March, the son of
Meirchion, is their prince. And he is cousin unto Arthur."

And further on he saw a troop whereof each man wore
garments of jet-black, with borders of pure white to every
scarf; and the tops of the shoulders and the knees of
their horses were pure white. And their banners were
'et-black with pure white at the point of each.

"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who are the jet-black
troop yonder ? "

" They are the men of Denmark ; and Edeyrn, the son
of Nudd, is their prince."

And when they had overtaken the host, Arthur and his
army of mighty ones dismounted below Caer Bad DU, and
he perceived that he and Iddawc journeyed the same road
as Arthur. And after they had dismounted, he heard a
great tumult and confusion amongst the host ; and such as

The Boy's Mabinogion.

were then at the flanks turned to the centre, and such as
had been in the centre moved to the flanks. And then,
behold, he saw a knight coming, clad, both he and his
horse, in mail, of which the rings were whiter than the
whitest lily, and the rivets redder than the ruddiest blood.
And he rode amongst the host.

Thereupon they heard a call made for Kadwr, Earl of
Cornwall ; and behold he arose, with the sword of Arthur
in his hand. And the similitude of two serpents was
upon the sword in gold. And when the sword was drawn
from its scabbard, it seemed as if two flames of fire burst
forth from the jaws of the serpents, and then, so won-
derful was the sword, that it was hard for any one to look
upon it. And the host became still, and the tumult
ceased, and the earl returned to the tent.

" Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, " who is the man who bore
the sword of Arthur ? "

" Kadwr, the Earl of Cornwall, whose duty it is to arm
the King on the days of battle and warfare."

And they heard a call made for Eirynwych Amheibyn,
Arthur's servant, a red, rough, ill-favored man, having red
whiskers with bristly hairs. And behold he came upon a
tall red horse, with the mane parted on each side, and he
brought with him a large and beautiful sumter pack.
And the huge red youth dismounted before Arthur, and
he drew a golden chair out of the pack, and a carpet of
diapered satin. And he spread the carpet before Arthur,
and there was an apple of ruddy gold at each corner

The Dream of Rhonabwy. 159

thereof, and he placed the chair upon the carpet. And
so large was the chair, that three armed warriors might
have sat therein. Gwenn was the name of the carpet ;
and it was one of its properties that whoever was upon it
no one could see him, and he could see every one. And
it would retain no color but its own.

And Arthur sat within the carpet, and Owain the son
of Urien was standing before him. " Owain," said Ar-
thur, " wilt thou play chess ? "

" I will, lord," said Owain.

And the red youth brought the chess for Arthur and
Owain ; golden pieces and a board of silver. And they
began to play.

And while they were thus, and when they were best
amused with their game, behold they saw a white tent
with a red canopy, and the figure of a jet-black serpent
on the top of the tent, and red glaring venomous eyes in
the head of the serpent, and a red flaming tongue. And
there came a young page with yellow curling hair, and
blue eyes, and a newly-springing beard, wearing a coat
and a surcoat of yellow satin, and hose of thin greenish -
yellow cloth upon his feet, and over his hose shoes of
party-colored leather, fastened at the insteps with golden
clasps. And he bore a heavy three-edged sword with a
golden hilt, in a scabbard of black leather tipped with
fine gold. And he came to the place where the emperor
and Owain were playing at chess.

And the youth saluted Owain. And Owain marvelled

T6o The Boy's Mabinogion.

that the youth should salute him, and should not have
saluted the Emperor Arthur. And Arthur knew what
was in Owain's thought. And he said to Owain, " Marvel
not that the youth salutes thee now, for he saluted me
crewhile ; and it is unto thee that his errand is."

Then said the youth unto Owain, " Lord, is it with thy
leave that the young pages and attendants of the emperor
harass and torment and worry thy ravens ? And, if it be
not with thy leave, cause the emperor to forbid them."

"Lord," said Owain, "thou hearest what the youth
says : if it seem good to thee, forbid them from my

ravens."

" Play thy game," said he. Then the youth returned
to the tent.

That game did they finish, and another they began, and,
when they were in the midst of the game, behold, a ruddy
young man with auburn curling hair and large eyes, well-
grown, and having his beard new-shorn, came forth from a
bright yellow tent upon the summit of which was the
figure of a bright red lion. And he was clad in a coat of
yellow satin, falling as low as the small of his leg, and
embroidered with threads of red silk. And on his feet
were hose of fine white buckram ; and buskins of black
leather were over his hose, whereon were golden clasps.
And in his hand a huge, heavy, three-edged sword, with a
scabbard of red deer-hide, tipped with gold. And he
came to the place where Arthur and Owain were playing
at chess. And he saluted him. And Owain was troubled

The Dream of Rhonabwy. 161

at his salutation ; but Arthur minded it no more than
before. And the youth said unto Ovvain, "Is it not
against thy will that the attendants of the emperor harass
thy javens, killing some, and worrying others ? If against
thy will it be, beseech him to forbid them."

"Lord," said Owain, "forbid thy men, if it seem good
to thee."

" Play thy game," said the emperor. And the youth
returned to the tent.

And that game was ended, and another begun. And as
they were beginning the first move of the game, they
beheld at a small distance from them a tent speckled yel-
low, the largest ever seen, and the figure of an eagle of
gold upon it, and a precious stone on the eagle's head.
And coming out of the tent they saw a youth with thick
yellow hair upon his head, fair and comely, and a scarf of
blue satin upon him, and a brooch of gold in the scarf
upon his right shoulder as large as a warrior's middle
finger. And upon his feet were hose of fine Totness, and
shoes of parti-colored leather, clasped with gold ; and the
youth was of noble bearing, fair of face, with ruddy
cheeks and large hawk's eyes. In the hand of the youth
was a mighty lance, speckled yellow, with a newly sharp-
ened head ; and upon the lance a banner displayed.

Fiercely angry, and with rapid pace, came the youth to
the place where Arthur was playing at chess with Owain.
And they perceived that he was wroth. And thereupon
he saluted Owain, and told him that his ravens had been

The Boys Mabinogion.

killed, the chief part of them, and that such of them as
were not slain were so wounded and bruised, that not one
of them could raise its wings a single fathom above the
earth.

" Lord," said Owain, "forbid thy men."

" Play," said he, " if it please thee."

Then said Owain to the youth, " Go back, and wherever
thou findest the strife at the thickest, there lift up the
banner, and let come what pleases Heaven."

So the youth returned back to the place where the strife
bore hardest upon the ravens, and he lifted up the ban-
ner ; and as he did so they all rose up in the air, wrathful
and fierce, and high of spirit, clapping their wings in the
wind, and shaking off the weariness that was upon them.
And recovering their energy and courage, furiously and
with exultation did they, with one sweep, descend upon
the heads of the men who had erewhile caused them
anger and pain and damage ; and they seized some by the
heads and others by the eyes, and some by the ears and
others by the arms, and carried them up into the air ; and
in the air there was a mighty tumult with the flapping of
the wings of the triumphant ravens, and with their croak-
ing ; and there was another mighty tumult with the
groaning of the men that were being torn and wounded,
and some of whom were slain.

And Arthur and Owain marvelled at the tumult as they
played at chess; and, looking, they perceived a knight
upon a dun-colored horse coming towards them. And

The Dream of Rlionabwy. 163

marvellous was the hue of the dun horse. Bright red was
his right shoulder, and from the top of his legs to the
centre of his hoof was bright yellow. Both the knight
and his horse were fully equipped with heavy foreign
armor. The clothing of the horse from the front open-
ing upwards was of bright red sendal, and from thence,
opening downwards, was of bright yellow sendal. A large
gold-hilted one-edged sword had the youth upon his thigh,
in a scabbard of light-blue, and tipped with Spanish laton.
The belt of the sword was of dark-green leather with
golden slides, and a clasp of ivory upon it, and a buckle of
jet-black upon the clasp. A helmet of gold was on the
head of the knight, set with precious stones of great vir-
tue ; and at the top of the helmet was the image of a
flame-colored leopard with two ruby-red stones in its head,
so that it was astounding for a warrior, however stout his
heart, to look at the face of the leopard, much more at
the face of the knight. He had in his hand a blue-shafted
lance ; but from the haft to the point it was stained crim-
son-red with the blood of the ravens and their plumage.

The knight came to the place where Arthur and Owain
were seated at chess. And they perceived that he was
harassed and vexed and weary as he came towards them.
And the youth saluted Arthur, and told him that the
ravens of Owain were slaying his young men and attend-
ants. And Arthur looked at Owain and said, "Forbid
thy ravens."

" Lord," answered Owain, " play thy game." And they

164 The Boys Mabinogion.

played. And the knight returned back towards the strife,
and the ravens were not forbidden any more than before.

And when they had played a while, they heard a mighty
tumult, and a wailing of men, and a croaking of ravens,
as they carried the men in their strength into the air,
and, tearing them betwixt them, let them fall piecemeal
to the earth. And during the tumult they saw a knight
coming towards them, on a light-gray horse, and the left
foreleg of the horse was jet-black to the centre of his
hoof. And the knight and the horse were fully accoutred
with huge heavy blue armor. And a robe of honor of
yellow diapered satin was upon the knight, and the bor-
ders of the robe were blue. And the housings of the
horse were jet-black, with borders of bright yellow. And
on the thigh of the youth was a sword, lorg and three-
edged and heavy. And the scabbard was of red cut
leather, and the belt of new red deerskin, having upon it
many golden slides, and a buckle of the bone of the sea-
horse, the tongue of which was jet-black. A golden
helmet was upon the head of the knight, wherein were
set sapphire-stones of great virtue. And at the top of
the helmet was the figure of a flame-colored lion, with
a fiery-red tongue, issuing above a foot from his mouth,
and with venomous eyes, crimson-red, in his head. And
the knight came, bearing in his hand a thick ashen lance,
the head whereof, which had been newly steeped in blood,
was overlaid with silver.

And the youth saluted the emperor. " Lord," said he,

te&&
m

Sis£

••f^--—

^

The Dream of Rhonabwy. 165

" carest thou not for the sla) ing of thy pages, and thy
young men, and the sons of the nobles of the Island of
Britain, whereby it will be difficult to defend this island
from henceforward forever ? "

"Owain," said Arthur, "forbid thy ravens."

<v Play this game, lord," said Owain.

So they finished the game, and began another ; and as
they were finishing that game, lo, they heard a great
tumult, and a clamor of armed men, and a croaking of
ravens, and a flapping of wings in the air, as they flung
down the armor entire to the ground, and the men and
the horses piecemeal. Then they saw coming a knight
on a lofty-headed piebald horse. And the left shoulder
of the horse was of bright red, and its right leg, from the
chest to the hollow of the hoof, was pure white. And the
knight and horse were equipped with arms of speckled
yellow, variegated with Spanish laton. And there was a
robe of honor upon him and upon his horse, divided in
two parts, white and black ; and the borders of the robe
of honor were of golden purple. And above the robe he
wore a sword, three-edged and bright, with a golden hilt.
And the belt of the sword was of yellow goldwork, having
a clasp upon it of the eyelid of a black sea-horse, and a
tongue of yellow gold to the clasp. Upon the head cf
the knight was a bright helmet of yellow laton, witi.
sparkling stones of crystal in it, and at the crest of the
helmet was the figure of a griffin, with a stone of many
virtues in its head. And he had an ashen spear in his

!66 The Boy's Mabinogion.

hand, with a round shaft, colored with azure-blue. And
the head of the spear was newly stained with blood, and
was overlaid with fine silver.

Wrathfully came the knight to the place where Arthur
was ; and he told him that the ravens had slain his house-
hold, and the sons of the chief men of this island, and he
besought him to cause Owain to forbid his ravens. And
Arthur besought Owain to forbid them. Then Arthur
took the golden chessmen that were upon the board, and
crushed them until they became as dust. Then Owain
ordered Gwres, the son of Rheged, to lower his banner.
So it was lowered, and all was peace.

Then Rhonabwy inquired of Iddawc who were the first
three men that came to Owain to tell him his ravens
were being slain.

Said Iddawc, " They were men who grieved that Owain
should suffer loss, his fellow-chieftains and companions,
Selyv the son of Kynan Garwyn of Powys, and Gwgawn
Gleddyvrudd, and Gwres the son of Rheged, he who bears
the banner in the day of battle and strife."

' Who," said Rhonabwy, " were the last three men who
came to Arthur, and told him that the ravens were
slaughtering his men ? "

' The best of men," said Iddawc, "and the bravest, and
who would grieve exceedingly that Arthur should have
damage in aught; Blathaon the son of Mawrheth, and
Rhuvawn Pebyr the son of Prince Deorthach, and
Hyveidd Unllenn."

The Dream of Rhoiiabwy. 167

And with that, behold four and twenty knights came
from Osla Gyllellvawr to crave a truce of Arthur for a
fortnight and a month. And Arthur arose and went to
take counsel. And he came to where a tall auburn,
curly-headed man was a little way off, and there he as-
sembled his counsellors, --Bedwini, the Bishop, and Gwar-
thegyd the son of Kaw, Gildas the son of Kaw, Kady-
riaith the son of Saidi, and many of the men of Norway
and Denmark, and many of the men of Greece, [and many
more beside].

"Iddawc," said Rhonabwy, "who was the auburn-haired
man to whom they came just now?"

"Rhun the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, a man whose
prerogative it is that he may join in counsel with all."

"And wherefore did they admit into counsel with men
of such dignity as are yonder a stripling so young as
Kadyriaith the son of Saidi ? "

"Because there is not throughout Britain a man better
skilled in counsel than he."

Thereupon, behold, bards came and recited verses before
Arthur, and no man understood those verses but Kady-
riaith only, save that they were in Arthur's praise.

And, lo, there came four and twenty asses, with their
burdens of gold and of silver, and a tired, wayworn man
with each of them, bringing tribute to Arthur from the
Islands of Greece. Then Kadyriaith the son of Saidi be-
sought that a truce might be granted to Osla Gyllellvawr
for the space of a fortnight and a month, and that the asses

1 68 The Boy's Mabinogion.

and the bun lens they carried might be given to the bards
to be to them as the reward for their stay, and that their
verse might be recompensed during the time of the truce.
And thus it was settled.

"Rhonabwy," said Iddawc, "would it not be wrong to
forbid a youth who can give counsel so liberal as this from
coming to the councils of his lord ? "

Then Kai arose, and he said, "Whosoever will follow
Arthur, let him be with him to-night in Cornwall ; and
whosoever will not, let him be opposed to Arthur even
during the truce."

And through the greatness of the tumult that ensued,
Rhonabwy awoke. And when he awoke he was upon the
yellow calf-skin, having slept three nights and three days.

And this tale is called the Dream of Rhonabwy. And
this is the reason that no one knows the dream without a
book, neither bard nor gifted seer, because of the various
colors that were upon the horses, and the many wondrous
colors of the arms and of the panoply, and of the precious
scarfs; and of the virtue-bearing stones.

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 169

PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED.

TDWYLL, Prince of Dyved, was lord of the seven Can-
*- trevs of Dyved ; and once upon a time he was at
Narberth, his chief palace, and he was minded to go and
hunt, and the part of his dominions in which it pleased
him to hunt was Glyn Cuch. So he set forth from Nar-
berth that night, and went as far as Llwyn Diarwyd.
And that night he tarried there, and early on the morrow
he rose and came to Glyn Cuch, when he let loose the
dogs in the wood, and sounded the horn, and began the
chase. And as he followed the dogs, he lost his com-
panions ; and whilst he listened to the hounds, he heard
the cry of other hounds, — a cry different from his own,
and coming in the opposite direction.

And he beheld a glade in the wood forming a level
plain, and as his dogs came to the edge of the glade, he
saw a stag before the other dogs. And, lo, as it reached
the middle of the glade, the dogs that followed the stag
overtook it, and brought it clown. Then looked he at the
color of the dogs, staying not to look at the stag ; and of
all the hounds that he had seen H the world he had never
seen any that were like unto these. For their hair was of
a brilliant shining white, and their ears were red ; and as

170

The Boy's Mabinogion.

the whiteness of their bodies shone, so did the redness of
their ears glisten. And he came towards the dogs, and
drove away those that had brought down the stag, and set
his own dogs upon it.

And as he was setting on his dogs he saw a horseman
coming towards him upon a large light-gray steed, with
a hunting-horn round his neck, and clad in garments of
gray woollen, in the fashion of a hunting-garb. And
the horseman drew near, and spake unto him thus :
" Chieftain," said he, " I know who thou art, and I greet
thee not."

" Peradventure," said Pwyll, "thou art of such dignity
that thou shouldest not do so."

"Verily," answered he, "it is not my dignity that
prevents me."

"What is it, then, O chieftain ?" asked he.

" By Heaven, it is by reason of thine own ignorance and
want of courtesy."

" What discourtesy, chieftain, hast thou seen in me ? "

"Greater discourtesy saw I never in man," said he,
" than to drive away the dogs that were killing the stag
and to set upon it thine own. This was discourteous, and
though I may not be revenged upon thee, yet I declare to
Heaven that I will do thee more dishonor than the value
of an hundred stags."

" O chieftain ! " he replied, " if I have done ill, I will
redeem thy friendship."

" How wilt thou redeem it ? "

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 1 7 1

" According as thy dignity may be. But I know not
who thou art."

"A crowned king am I in the land whence I come."

" Lord," said he, " may the day prosper with thee ! And
from what land comest thou ? "

" From Annwvyn," answered he. "Arawn, a king of
Annwvyn, am I."

" Lord," said he, " how may I gain thy friendship ? "

" After this manner mayest thou," he said. " There is
a man whose dominions are opposite to mine, who is ever
warring against me, and he is Havgan, a king of Annwvyn,
and by ridding me of this oppression, which thou canst
easily do, shalt thou gain my friendship."

" Gladly will I do this," said he. " Show me how I
may."

" I will show thee. Behold thus it is thou mayest : I
will make firm friendship with thee ; and this will I do.
I will send thee to Annwvyn in my stead, and I will put
my form and semblance upon thee, so that not a page of
the chamber, nor an officer, nor any other man that has
always followed me, shall know that it is not I. And this
shall be for the space of a year from to-morrow, and then
we will meet in this place."

" Yes," said he ; " but when I shall have been there for
the space of a year, by what means shall I discover him of
whom thou speakest ? "

"One year from this night," he answered, "is the time
fixed between him and me that we should meet at the

The Boy's Mabinogion.

Ford. Be thou there in my likeness, and with one stroke
that thou givest him, he shall no longer live. And if he
ask thee to give him another, give it not, how much soever
he may entreat thee ; for when I did so, he fought with
me next day as well as ever before."

" Verily," said Pwyll, " what shall I do concerning my
kingdom ? "

Said Arawn, " I will cause that no one in all thy domin-
ions, neither man nor woman, shall know that I am not
thou, and I will go there in thy stead."

"Gladly then," said Pwyll, "will I set forward."

" Clear shall be thy path, and nothing shall detain thee,
until thou come into my dominions, and I myself will be
thy guide."

So he conducted him until he came in sight of the
palace and its dwellings. " Behold," said he, " the court
and the kingdom in thy power. Enter the court : there is
no one there who will know thee, and when thou seest
what service is done there, thou wilt know the customs of
the court."

So he went forward to the court, and when he came
there he beheld sleeping-rooms, and halls, and chambers,
and the most beautiful buildings ever seen. And he went
into the hall to disarray, and there came youths and pages
and disarrayed him, and all as they entered saluted him.
And two knights came and drew his hunting-dress from
about him, and clothed him in a vesture of silk and erold.

O

the hall was prepared, and behold he saw the house-

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 1-7-3

hold and the host enter in, and the host was the most
comely and the best equipped that he had ever seen.
And with them came in likewise the queen, who was the
fairest woman that he had ever yet beheld. And she had
on a yellow robe of shining satin ; and they washed and
went to the table, and sat, the queen upon one side of
him, and one who seemed to be an earl on the other side.
And he began to speak with the queen, and he thought
from her speech that she was the seemliest and most noble
lady of converse and of cheer that ever was. And they
partook of meat and drink, with songs and with feasting ;
and of all the courts upon the earth, behold this was the
best supplied with food and drink, and vessels of gold and
royal jewels.

And the year he spent in hunting, and minstrelsy, and
feasting, and diversions, and discourse with his companions,
until the night that was fixed for the conflict. And when
that night came, it was remembered even by those who
lived in the furthest part of his dominions, and he went to
the meeting, and the nobles of the kingdom with him.
And when he came to the Ford, a knight arose, and spake
thus: "Lords," said he, "listen well. It is between two
kings that this meeting is, and between them only. Each
claimeth of the other his land and territory, and do all of
you stand aside, and leave the fight to be between them."

Thereupon the two kings approached each other in the
middle of the Ford, and encountered, and at the first

174 The Boys Mabinogion.

thrust the man who was in the stead of Arawn struck
Havgan on the centre of the boss of his shield, so that it
was cloven in twain, and his armor was broken ; and Hav-
gan himself was borne to the ground an arm's and 3
spear's length over the crupper of his horse, and he re-
ceived a deadly blow.

"O chieftain," said Havgan, what right hast thou to
cause my death ? I was not injuring thee in any thing,
s.nd I know not wherefore thou wouldest slay me. But,
for the love of Heaven, since thou hast begun to slay me,
complete thy work."

"Ah, chieftain," he replied, "I may yet repent doing
that unto thee : slay thee who may, I will not do so."

"My trusty lords," said Havgan, "bear me hence.
My death has come. I shall be no more able to uphold
you."

" My nobles," also said he who was in the semblance of
Arawn, "take counsel, and know who ought to be my
subjects."

"Lord," said the nobles, "all should be ; for there is no
king over the whole of Annwvyn but thee."

" Yes," he replied, " it is right that he who comes hum-
bly should be received graciously ; but he that doth not
come with obedience shall be compelled by the force of
swords." And thereupon he received the homage of the
men, and he began to conquer the country ; and the next
day by noon the two kingdoms were in his power. And
thereupon he went to keep his tryst, and came to Glyn
Cuch.

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 175

And when he came there, the king of Annwvyn was
there to meet him, and each of them was rejoiced to
see the other.

'Verily," said Arawn, "may Heaven reward thee for
thy friendship towards me! I have heard of it. When
thou comest thyself to thy dominions," said he, "thou wilt
see that which I have done for thee."

' Whatever thou hast done for me, may Heaven repay
it thee."

Then Arawn gave to Pwyll, Prince of Dyved, his proper
form and semblance, and he himself took his own. And
Arawn set forth towards the court of Annwvyn ; and he
was rejoiced when he beheld his hosts and his household,
whom he had not seen so long ; but they had not known
of his absence, and wondered no more at his coming than
usual. And that day was spent in joy and merriment ;
and he sat and conversed with his wife and his nobles.
And when it was time for them rather to sleep than to
carouse, they went to rest.

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved, came likewise to his country and
dominions, and began to inquire of the nobles of the land,
how his rule had been during the past year, compared with
what it had been before.

" Lord," said they, " thy wisdom was never so great,
and thou wast never so kind or so free in bestowing thy
gifts ; and thy justice was never more worthily seen than
in this year."

The Boy's Mabinogion.

" By Heaven," said he, " for all the good you have en-
joyed you should thank him who hath been with you;
for behold, thus hath this matter been." And thereupon
Pwyll related the whole unto them. " Verily, lord," said
they, "render thanks unto Heaven that thou hast such
a fellowship, and withhold not from us the rule which we
have enjoyed for this year past."

" I take Heaven to witness that I will not withhold it,"
answered Pwyll.

And thenceforth they made strong the friendship that
was between them, and each sent unto the other horses
and greyhounds and hawks, and all such jewels as they
thought would be pleasing to each other. And by reason
of his having dwelt that year in Annwvyn, and having
ruled there so prosperously, and united the two kingdoms
in one day by his valor and prowess, he lost the name of
Pwyll, Prince of Dyved, and was called Pwyll, chief of
Annwvyn, from that time forward.

Once upon a time Pwyll was at Narberth, his chief
palace, where a feast had been prepared for him, and with
him was a great host of men. And after the first meal,

wyll arose to walk, and he went to the top of a mound
that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd
Arberth.

-ord," said one of the court, "it is peculiar to the
mound that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence
thout either receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing
a wonder."

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 177

'' I fear not to receive wounds and blows in the midst
of such a host as this ; but as to the wonder, gladly would
I see it. I will go therefore and sit upon the mound."

And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there,
they saw a lady, on a pure white horse of large size, with
a garment of shining gold around her, coming along the
highway that led from the mound ; and the horse seemed
to move at a slow and even pace, and to be coming up
towards the mound.

" My men," said Pwyll, " is there any among you who
knows yonder lady ? "

" There is not, lord," said they.

" Go one of you and meet her, that we may know who
she is."

And one of them arose ; and as he came upon the road
to meet her she passed by, and he followed as fast as he
could, being on foot ; and the greater was his speed, the
farther was she from him. And when he saw that it
profited him nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll,
and said unto him, " Lord, it is idle for any one in the
world to follow her on foot."

"Verily," said Pwyll, "go unto the palace, and take the
fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her."

And he took a horse and went forward. And he came
to an open level plain, and put spurs to his horse ; and
the more he urged his horse, the farther was she from
him. Yet she held the same pace as at first. And his
horse began to fail ; and when his horse's feet failed him,
he returned to the place where Pwyll was.

The Boy's Mabinogion.

" Lord," said he, " it will avail nothing for any one to
follow yonder lady. I know of no horse in these realms
swifter than this, and it availed me not to pursue her."

" Of a truth," said Pwyll, " there must be some illusion
here. Let us go towards the palace." So to the palace
they went, and they spent that day. And the next day
they arose, and that also they spent until it was time to
go to meat. And after the first meal, "Verily," said
Pwyll, " we will go, the same party as yesterday, to the
top of the mound. And do thou," said he to one of his
young men, "take the swiftest horse that thou knowest
in the field." And thus did the young man. And they
went towards the mound, taking the horse with them.
And as they were sitting down they beheld the lady on
the same horse, and in the same apparel, coming along the
same road. "Behold," said Pwyll, "here is the lady of
yesterday. Make ready, youth, to learn who she is."

" My lord," said he, "that will I gladly do." And there-
upon the lady came opposite to them. So the youth
mounted his horse ; and before he had settled himself
in his saddle, she passed by, and there was a clear space
between them. But her speed was no greater than it
had been the day before. Then he put his horse into
an amble, and thought, that, notwithstanding the gentle
pace at which his horse went, he should soon overtake
her. But this availed him not : so he gave his horse the
reins. And still he came no nearer to her than when he
went at a foot's pace. And the more he urged his horse,

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 179

the farther was she from him. Yet she rode not faster
than before. When he saw that it availed not to follow
her, he returned to the place where Pwyll was. " Lord,"
said he, "the horse can no more than thou hast seen."

" I see indeed that it avails not that any one should
follow her. And by Heaven," said he, " she must needs
have an errand to some one in this plain, if her haste
would allow her to declare it. Let us go back to the
palace." And to the palace they went, and they spent
that night in songs and feasting, as it pleased them.

And the next day they amused themselves until it was
time to go to meat. And when meat was ended, Pwyll
said, " Where are the hosts that went yesterday and the
day before to the top of the mound ? "

" Behold, lord, we are here," said they.

" Let us go," said he, " to the mound, to sit there.
And do thou," said he to the page who tended his horse,
" saddle my horse well, and hasten with him to the road,
and bring also my spurs with thee." And the youth did
thus. And they went and sat upon the mound. And ere
they had been there but a short time, they beheld the lady
coming by the same road, and in the same manner, and at
the same pace. "Young man," said Pwyll, "I see the
lady coming : give me my horse." And no sooner had
he mounted his horse than she passed him. And he
turned after her, and followed her. And he let his horse
go bounding playfully, and thought that at the second
step or the third he should come up with her. But he

iSo The Boy's M ,.v v.

• - ^^^^— ^^^^— • •*

came no nearer to her than at firs:. Then he urged his
horse to his utmost s:ved. yet he found that it av.i
nothing to follow her. Then said Pwyll, " O maiden, for
the sake of him whom thou best loves:, stay for me."

"I will stay gladly," said she, "and it were better tor
thy horse hadst thou asked it long since." So the maiden
stopped, and she threw back that part of her head-dress
which covered her face. And she fixed her eyes upon
him, and began to talk with him.

"Lady," asked he, "whence comest thou, and where-
unto dost thou journey ? "

"I journey on mine own errand," said she. "and right
glad am I to see thee."

" My greeting be unto thee," said he. Then he thought
that the beauty of all the maidens, and all the ladies that
he had ever seen, was as nothing compared to her beauty.
"Lady," he said, "wilt thou tell me aught concerning thy
purpose ? "

" I will tell thee," said she. " My chief quest was to
seek thee."

'" Behold," said Pwyll, " this is to me the most pleasing
q-uest on which thou couldst have come. And wilt thou
tell me who thou art ? "

" I will tell thee, lord," said she. " I am Rhiannon, the
daughter of Heveydd Hen, and they sought to give me to
a husband against my will. But no husband would I have,
and that because of my love for thee, neither will I yet
have one unless thou reject me. And hither have I come
to hear thy answer."

Pwyll, Prince of Dyvcd.

'By Heaven," said Pwyll, "behold this is njy answer
If I might choose among all the ladies and damsels in
the world, thee would I choose."

"Verily," said she, "if thou art thus minded, make a
pledge to meet me ere I am given to another."

'The sooner I may do so, the more pleasing will it be
unto me," said Pwyll, "and wheresoever thou wilt, there
will I meet with thee."

" I will that thou meet me this day twelvemonth, at the
palace of Heveydd. And I will cause a feast to be pre
pared, so that it be ready against thou come."

" Gladly," said he, " will I keep this tryst."

"Lord," said she, "remain in health, and be mindful
that thou keep thy promise. And now will I go hence."

So they parted, and he went back to his hosts and to
them of his household. And whatsoever questions they
asked him respecting the damsel, he always turned the
discourse upon other matters. And when a year from
that time was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip
themselves, and to go with him to the palace of Heveydd
Hen. And he came to the palace, and there was great
joy concerning him, with much concourse of people, and
great rejoicing, and vast preparations for his coming.
And the whole court was placed under his orders.

And the hall was garnished, and they went to meat,
and thus did they sit : Heveydd Hen was on one side of
Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the other. And all the rest
according to their rank. And they ate and feasted and

1 82 The Boy's Mabinogion.

talked, one with another; and at the beginning of the
carousal after the meat, there entered a tall auburn-
haired youth, of royal bearing, clothed in a garment of
satin. And when he came into the hall he saluted Pvvyll
and his companions.

"The greeting of Heaven be unto thee, my soul," said
Pwyll. "Come thou and sit down."

'• Nay," said he, " a suitor am I ; and I will do mine
errand."

"Do so willingly," said Pwyll.

" Lord," said he, " my errand is unto thee ; and it is to
crave a boon of thee that I come."

" What boon soever thou mayest ask of me, as far as I
am able, thou shalt have."

"Ah," said Rhiannon, "wherefore didst thou give that
answer ? "

''Has he not given it before the presence of these
nobles ? " asked the youth.

"My soul," said Pwyll, "what is the boon thou
askest ? "

' The lady whom best I love is to be thy bride this
night : I come to ask her of thee, with the feast and the
banquet that are in this place."

And Pwyll was silent because of the answer which he
had given.

"Be silent as long as thou wilt," said Rhiannon.
Never did man make worse use of his wi"s than thou
hast done."

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 183

•''Lady," said he, "I knew not who he was."

;' Behold, this is the man to whom they would have
given me against my will," said she. " And he is Gwawl
the son of Clud, a man of great power and wealth ; and
because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me upon
him, lest shame befall thee."

"Lady," said he, "I understand not thine answer.
Never can I do as thou sayest."

" Bestow me upon him," said she, " and I will cause
that I shall never be his."

"By what means will that be ? " asked Pwyll.

" In thy hand will I give thee a small bag," said she.
" See that thou keep it well, and he will ask of thee the
banquet and the feast, and the preparations, which are not
in thy power. Unto the hosts and the household will I
give the feast. And such will be thy answer respecting
this. And as concerns myself, I will engage to become
his bride this night twelvemonth. And at the end of the
year be thou here," said she, "and bring this bag with
thee, and let thy hundred knights be in the orchard up
yonder. And when he is in the midst of joy and feasting,
come thou in by thyself, clad in ragged garments, and
holding thy bag in thy hand, and ask nothing but a bagful
of food : and I will cause that if all the meat and liquor
that are in these seven cantrevs were put into it, it would
be no fuller than before. And after a great deal has been
put therein, he will ask thee whether thy bag will ever be
full. Say thou then that it never will, until a man of

1 84 Tfa Boys Mabinogion.

—

noble birth and of great wealth arise and press the food
in the bag with both his feet, saying, ' Enough has been
put therein.' And I will cause him to go and tread down
the food in the bag, md when he does so, turn thou the
bag, so that he shall be up over his head in it, and then
slip a knot upon the thongs of the bag. Let there be
also a good bugle-horn about thy neck, and as soon as
thou hast bound him in the bag, wind thy horn, and let it
be a signal between thee and thy knights. And when
they hear the sound of the horn, let them come down
upon the palace."

"Lord," said Gwawl, "it is meet that I have an answer
to my request."

" As much of that thou hast asked as it is in my power
to give, thou shalt have," replied Pwyll.

" My soul," said Rhiannon unto him, " as for the feast
and the banquet that are here, I have bestowed them upon
the men of Dyved, and the household, and the warriors
that are with us. These can I not suffer to be given to
any. In a year from to-night a banquet shall be pre-
pared for thee in this palace, that I may become thy
bride."

So Gwawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went
also back to Dyved. And they both spent that year until
it was the time for the feast at the palace of Heveydd
Hen. Then Gwawl the son of Clud set out to the feast
that was prepared for him, and he came to the palace, and
was received there *rith rejoicing. Pwyll also, the chief

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 185

of Annwvyn, came to the orchard with his hundred
knights, as Rhiannon had commanded him, having the
bag with him. And Pwyll was clad in coarse and ragged
garments, and wore large clumsy old shoes upon his feet.
And when he knew that the carousal after the meat had
begun, he went towards the hall, and when he came into
the hall, he saluted Gwawl the son of Clud, and his com-
pany, both men and women.

" Heaven prosper thee ! " said Gwawl, " and the greeting
of Heaven be unto thee ! "

"Lord," said he, "may Heaven reward thee! I have
an errand unto thee."

" Welcome be thine errand, and, if thou ask of me that
which is just, thou shalt have it gladly."

" It is fitting," answered he. "I crave but from want ;
and the boon that I ask is to have this small bag that thou
seest filled with meat."

" A request within reason is this," said he, " and gladly
shalt thou have it. — Bring him food."

A great number of attendants arose, and began to fill
the bag ; but for all that they put into it, it was no fuller
than at first.

" My soul," said Gwawl, " will thy bag be ever full ? "

"It will not, I declare to Heaven," said he, "for all that
may be put into it, unless one possessed of lands and
domains and treasure shall arise, and tread down with
both his feet the food that is within the bag, and shall
say, ' Enough has been put herein.' '

The Boy's Mabinogun.

Then said Rhiannon unto Gwawl the son of Clucl,
" Rise up quickly."

" I will willingly arise," said he. So he rose up, and
put his two feet into the bag. And Pwyll turned up
the sides of the bag, so that Gwawl was over his head
in it. And he shut it up quickly, and slipped a knot
upon the thongs, and blew his horn. And thereupon
behold his household came down upon the palace. And
they seized all the host that had come with Gwawl, and
cast them into his own prison. And Pwyll threw off his
rags, and his old shoes, and his tattered array. And
as they came in, every one of Pwyll' s knights struck a
blow upon the bag, and asked, " What is here ? "

"A Badger," said they. And in this manner they
played, each of them striking the bag, either with his
foot or with a staff. And thus played they with the
bag. Every one as he came in asked, " What game are
you playing at thus ? "

"The game of Badger in the Bag," said they. And
then was the game of Badger in the Bag first played.

"Lord," said the man in the bag, "if thou wouldest
but hear me, I merit not to be slain in a bag."

Said Heveydd Hen, " Lord, he speaks truth. It were
fitting that thou listen to him ; for he deserves not this."

"Verily," said Pwyll, "I will do thy counsel concerning
him."

"Behold, this is my counsel then," said Rhiannon.
"Thou art now in a position in which it behoves thee

Pwyll, Prince of Dyzed. [87

to satisfy suitors and minstrels : let him give unto them
in thy stead, and take a pledge from him that he will
never seek to revenge that which has been done to him.
And this will be punishment enough."

" I will do this gladly," said the man in the bag.

" And gladly will I accept it," said Pwyll, " since it is
the counsel of Heveydd and Rhiannon."

" Such, then, is our counsel," answered they.

" I accept it," said Pwyll.

" Seek thyself sureties."

"We will be for him," said Heveydd, " until his men be
free to answer for him." And upon this he was let out
of the bag, and his liege-men were liberated. " Demand
now of Gwawl his sureties," said Heveydd : " we know
which should be taken for him." And Heveydd numbered
the sureties.

Said Gwawl, "Do thou thyself draw up the covenant."

" It will suffice me that it be as Rhiannon said," an-
swered Pwyll. So unto that covenant were the sureties
pledged.

" Verily, lord," said Gwawl, " I am greatly hurt, and I
have many bruises. I have need to be anointed : with
thy leave I will go forth. I will leave nobles in my stead
to answer for me in all that thou shalt require."

"Willingly," said Pwyll, "mayest thou do thus." So
Gwawl went towards his own possessions.

And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of
his host, and for them also of the palace, and they went

1 88 The Boy's Mabinogion.

to the tables and sat down. And as they had sat that
time twelvemonth, so sat they that night. And they ate,
and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquillity.

And next morning, at the break of day, "My lord,"
said Rhiannon, " arise and begin to give thy gifts unto
the minstrels. Refuse no one to-day that may claim thy
bounty."

" Thus shall it be, gladly," said Pwyll, " both to-day and
every day while the feast shall last." So Pwyll arose, and
he caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired all the
suitors and the minstrels to show and to point out what
gifts were to their wish and desire. And this being done,
the feast went on, and he denied no one while it lasted.
And when the feast was ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd,
" My lord, with thy permission, I will set out for Dyved
to-morrow."

" Certainly," said Heveydd. " May Heaven prosper
thee ! Fix also a time when Rhiannon may follow
thee."

Said Pwyll, "We will go hence together."

" Wiliest thou this, lord ? " said Heveydd.

"Yes," answered Pwyll.

And the next day they set forward towards Dyved, and
i mrneyed to the palace of Narberth, where a feast was
made ready for them. And there came to them great
numbers of the chief men and the most noble ladies of
the land, and of these there was none to whom Rhiannon
did not give some rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 189

a precious stone. And they ruled the land prosperously
both that year and the next.

[And in the fourth year a son was born to them, and
women were brought to watch the babe at night.] And
the women slept, as did also Rhiannon. And when they
awoke they looked where they had put the boy, and behold
he was not there. [And the women were frightened ; and,
having plotted together, they accused Rhiannon of having
murdered her child before their eyes.]

"For pity's sake," said Rhiannon, "the Lord God
knows all things. Charge me not falsely. If you tell
me this from fear, I assert before Heaven that I will
defend you."

"Truly," said they, "we would not bring evil on our-
selves for any one in the world."

" For pity's sake," said Rhiannon, " you will receive no
evil by telling the truth." But for all her words, whether
fair or harsh, she received but the same answer from the
women.

And Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn arose, and his house-
Gold and his hosts. And this occurrence could not be
concealed ; but the story went forth throughout the land,
and all the nobles heard it. Then the nobles came to
Pwyll, and besought him to put away his wife because of
the great crime which she had done. But Pwyll answered
them that they had no cause wherefore they might asl
him to put away his wife.

So Rhiannon sent for the teachers and the wise men,

190 The Boy's Mabinogion.

and as she preferred doing penance to contending with
the women, she took upon her a penance. And the
penance that was imposed upon her was that she should
remain in that palace of Narberth until the end of seven
years, and that she should sit every day near unto a horse-
block that was without the gate ; and that she should
relate the story to all who should come there whom she
might suppose not to know it already ; and that she should
offer the guests and strangers, if they would permit her,
to carry them upon her back into the palace. But it
rarely happened that any would permit. And thus did
she spend part of the year.

Now at that time Teirnyon Twryv Vliant was lord of
Gwent Is Coed, and he was the best man in the world
And unto his house there belonged a mare than which
neither mare nor horse in the kingdom was more beautiful.
And on the night of every first of May she foaled, and no
one ever knew what became of the colt. And one night
Teirnyon talked with his wife: "Wife," said he, "it is
very simple of us that our mare should foal every year,
and that we should have none of her colts."

" What can be done in the matter ? " said she.

"This is the night of the first of May," said he. "The
vengeance of Heaven be upon me, if I learn not what it
is that takes away the colts." So he armed himself, and
began to watch that night- Teirnyon heard a great
tumult, and after the tumult behold a claw came through
the window into the house, and it seized the colt by the

Pwyll, Primt of Dyved. \ 9

mane. Then Teirnyon drew his sword, and struck off the
arm at the elbow : so that portion of the arm, together with
the colt, was in the house with him. And then did he hear
a tumult and wailing both at once. And he opened the
door, and rushed out in the direction of the noise, and
he could not see the cause of the tumult because of the
darkness of the night ; but he rushed after it and followed
it. Then he remembered that he had left the door open,
and he returned. And at the door behold there was an
infant-boy in swaddling-clothes, wrapped around in a man-
tle of satin. And he took up the boy, and behold he was
very strong for the age that he was of.

Then he shut the door, and went into the chamber
where his wife was. "Lady," said he, "art thou sleep

ing?"

" No, lord," said she : " I was asleep, but as thou carries:

in I did awake."

" Behold, here is a boy for thee, if thou wilt," said he,

"since thou hast never had one."

" My lord," said she, "what adventure is this ? '

" It was thus," said Teirnyon. And he told her how it

all befell.

"Verily, lord," said she, "what sort of garments are

there upon the boy?'

" A mantle of satin," said he.

" He is then a boy of gentle lineage," she replied.

And they caused the boy to be baptized, and the cere-
mony was performed there. And the name which thc>

1 92 TJie Boy's Mabinogion.

gave unto him was Gwri Wallt Euryn, because what hair
was upon his head was as yellow as gold. And they had
the boy nursed in the court until he was a year old. And
before the year was over he could walk stoutly ; and he
was larger than a boy of three years old, even one of
great growth and size. And the boy was nursed the
second year, and then he was as large as a child six
years old. And before the end of the fourth year, he
would bribe the grooms to allow him to take the horses
to water.

" My lord," said his wife unto Teirnyon, " where is the
colt which thou didst save on the night that thou didst
find the boy?"

" I have commanded the grooms of the horses," said he,
" that they take care of him."

" Would it not be well, lord," said she, " if thou wert
to cause him to be broken in, and given to the boy, seeing
that on the same night that thou didst find the boy, the
colt was foaled, and thou didst save him ? "

"I will not oppose thee in this matter," said Teirnyon.
"1 will allow thee to give him the colt."

" Lord," said she, " may Heaven reward thee ! I will
give it him." So the horse was given to the boy. Then
she went to the grooms and those who tended the horses,
and commanded them to be careful of the horse, so that
he might be broken in by the time that the boy could ride
him.

And while these things were going forward, they heard

Pwyll, Prince of Dyved. 1 93

tidings of Rhiannon and her punishment. And Tcirnyon
Twryv Vliant, by reason of the pity that he felt on hear-
ing this story of Rhiannon and her punishment, inquired
closely concerning it, until he had heard from many of
those who came to his court. Then did Teirnyon, often
lamenting the sad history, ponder within himself ; and he
looked steadfastly on the boy, and as he looked upon him,
it seemed to him that he had never beheld so great a like-
ness between father and son as between the boy and
Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn. Now the semblance of
Pwyll was well known to him, for he had of yore been
one of his followers. And thereupon he became grieved
for the wrong that he did in keeping with him a boy
whom he knew to be the son of another man. And the
first time that he was alone with his wife he told her that
it was not right that they should keep the boy with them,
and suffer so excellent a lady as Rhiannon to be punished
so greatly on his account, whereas the boy was the son
of Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn. And Teirnyon's wife
agreed with him that they should send the boy to Pwyll
"And three things, lord," said she, "shall we gain
thereby, — thanks and gifts for releasing Rhiannon from
her punishment, and thanks from Pwyll for nursing his
son and restoring him unto him ; and, thirdly, if the boy
is of gentle nature, he will be our foster-son, and he
do for us all the good in his power." So it was settled
according to this counsel.

And no later than the next day was Teirnyon equipped,

194 The Boy's Mabinogion.

and two other knights with him. And the boy, as a fourth
in their company, went with them upon the horse which
Teirnyon had given him. And they journeyed towards
Narberth, and it was not long before they reached that
place. And as they drew near to the palace, they beheld
Rhiannon sitting beside the horse-block. And when they
were opposite to her, " Chieftain," said she, "go not farther
thus : I will bear every one of you into the palace. And
this is my penance for slaying my own son, and devouring
him."

"Oh, fair lady," said Teirnyon, "think not that I will
be one to be carried upon thy back."

" Neither will I," said the boy.

"Truly, my soul," said Teirnyon, "we will not go."
So they went forward to the palace, and there was great
joy at their coming. And at the palace a feast was pre-
pared, because Pwyll was come back from the confines of
Dyved. And they went into the hall and washed, and
Pwyll rejoiced to see Teirnyon. And in this order they
sat: Teirnyon between Pwyll and Rhiannon, and Teir-
nyon's two companions on the other side of Pwyll, with
the boy between them. And after meat they began to
carouse and to discourse. And Teirnyon's discourse was
concerning the adventure of the mare and the boy, and
how he and his wife had nursed and rea-ed the child as
their own. "And behold here is thy son, lady," said
Teirnyon. "And whosoever told that lie concerning
thee has done wrong. And when I heard of thy sorrow

Pwyll, Prince of Dyvcd. 195

I was troubled and grieved. And I believe that there is
none of this host who will not perceive that the boy is
the son of Pwyll," said Teirnyon.

"There is none," said they all, "who is not certain
thereof."

" I declare to Heaven," said Rhiannon, " that, if this be
true, there is indeed an end to my trouble."

"Lady," said Pendaran Dyved, "well hast thou named
thy son Pryderi, and well becomes him the name of Pry-
deri son of Pwyll chief of Annwvyn."

" Look you," said Rhiannon : " will not his own name
become him better ? "

"What name has he ? " asked Pendaran Dyved.

"Gwri Wallt Euryn is the name that we gave him."

"Pryderi," said Pendaran, "shall his name be."

" It were more proper," said Pwyll, " that the boy should
take his name from the word his mother spoke when she
received the joyful tidings of him." And thus was it
arranged.

" Teirnyon," said Pwyll, " Heaven reward thee that thou
hast reared the boy up to this time, and, being of gentle
lineage, it were fitting that he repay thee for it."

"My lord," said Teirnyon, "it was my wife who nursed
him, and there is no one in the world so afflicted as she at
parting with him. It were well that he should bear in
mind what I and my wife have done for him."

" I call Heaven to witness," said Pwyll, " that while I
live I will support thee and thy possessions as long as

196 The Boy's Mabinogion.

I am able to preserve my own. And when he shall have
power, he will more fitly maintain them than I. And if
this counsel be pleasing unto thee and to my nobles, it
shall be, that, as thou hast reared him up to the present
time, I will give him to be brought up by Pendaran Dyved
from henceforth. And you shall be companions, and shall
both be foster-fathers unto him."

" This is good counsel," said they all. So the boy was
given to Pendaran Dyved, and the nobles of the land
were sent with him. And Teirnyon Twryv Vliant and
his companions set out for his country and his pos-
sessions, with love and gladness. And he went not
without being offered the fairest jewels, and the fairest
horses, and the choicest dogs ; but he would take none of
them.

Thereupon they all remained in their own dominions.
And Pryderi the son of Pwyll the chief of Annwvyn
was brought up carefully, as was fit, so that he became
the fairest youth, and the most comely, and the best
skilled in all good games, of any in the kingdom. And
thus passed years and years until the end of Pwyll the
chief of Annwvyn's life came, and he died.

And Pryderi ruled the seven Cantrevs of Dyved pros-
perously ; and he was beloved by his people and by all
around him. And at length he added unto them the
three Cantrevs of Ystrad Tywi and the four Cantrevs
of Cardigan ; and these were called the Seven Cantrevs
of Seissyllwch. And when he made this addition, Pry-

Pwyll, Prince of Dyvcd. 197

deri the son r>f Pwyll the chief of Annwyvn desired to
take a wife. And the wife he chose was Kicva, the
daughter of Gwynn Gohoyw, the son of Gloyw Wlallt
Lydan, the son of Prince Casnar, one of the nobles of
this island.

198 The Boy's Mabinogion.

THE STORY OF LLUDD AND LLEVELYS.

BELI the Great, the son of Manogan, had three sons,
Lludd and Caswallawn and Nynyaw, and according
to the story he had a fourth son called Llevelys. And
after the death of Beli, the kingdom of the Island of
Britain fell into the hands of Lludd, his eldest son ; and
Lludd ruled prosperously, and rebuilt the walls of London,
and encompassed it about with numberless towers. And
after that he bade the citizens build houses therein, such
as no houses in the kingdoms could equal. And moreover
he was a mighty warrior, and generous and liberal in
giving meat and drink to all that sought them. And
though he had many castles and cities, this one loved he
more than any. And he dwelt therein most part of the
year, and therefore was it called Caer Lludd, and at last
Caer London. And after the stranger-race came there,
it was called London, or Lwndrys.

Lludd loved Llevelys best of all his brothers, because
he was a wise and discreet man. Having heard that the
King of France had died, leaving no heir except a daughter,
and that he had left all his possessions in her hands, he
came to Lludd his brother to beseech his counsel and
aid ; and that not so much for his own welfare as to

The Story of Lludd and Llcvclys. \ 99

seek to add to the glory and honor and dignity of his
kindred, if he might go to France to woo the maiden for
his wife. And forthwith his brother conferred with him,
and this counsel was pleasing unto him.

So he prepared ships, and filled them with armed
knights, and set forth towards France. And as soon as
they had landed, they sent messengers to show the nobles
of France the cause of the embassy. And by the joint
counsel of the nobles of France and of the princes, the
maiden was given to Llevelys, and the crown of the
kingdom with her. And thenceforth he ruled the land
discreetly and wisely and happily as long as his life
lasted.

After a space of time had passed, three plagues fell on
the Island of Britain, such as none in the islands had ever
seen the like of. The first was a certain race that came,
and was called the Coranians ; and so great was their
knowledge, that there was no discourse upon the face
of the island, however low it might be spoken, but what, if
the wind met it, it was known to them. And through
this they could not be injured.

The second plague was a shriek which came on every
May-eve over every hearth in the Island of Britain,
this went through people's hearts, and so scared them,
that the men lost their hue and their strength, and the
young men and the maidens lost their senses, and all
animals and trees, and the earth and the waters, were left
barren.

2oo The Boy's Mabinogion.

The third plague was, that, however much of provisions
and food might be prepared in the king's courts, were
there even so much as a year's provision of meat and
drink, none of it could ever be found, except what was
consumed in the first night. And two of these plagues
no one ever knew their cause, therefore was there better
hope of being freed from the first than from the second
and third.

And thereupon King Lludd felt great sorrow and care,
because that he knew not how he might be freed from
these plagues. And he called to him all the nobles of his
kingdom, and asked counsel of them what they should do
against these afflictions. And by the common counsel of
the nobles, Lludd the son of Beli went to Llevelys his
brother, King of France, for he was a man great of
counsel and wisdom, to seek his advice.

And they made ready a fleet, and that in secret and
in silence, lest that race should know the cause of their
errand, or any besides the king and his counsellors. And
when they were made ready, they went into their ships,
Lludd and those whom he chose with him. And they
began to cleave the seas towards France.

And when these tidings came to Llevelys, seeing that
he knew not the cause of his brother's ships he came on
the other side to meet him, and with him was a fleet vast
of size. And when Lludd saw this, he left all the ships
out upon the sea except one only; and in that one he
came to meet his brother, and he likewise wi'h a single

The Story of Lludd and Llcvclys. 201

ship came to meet him. And when they were come
together, each put his arms about the other's neck, and
they welcomed each other with brotherly love.

After that Lludd had shown his brother the cause of
his errand, Llevelys said that he himself knew the cause
of the coming to those lands. And they took counsel
together to discourse on the matter otherwise than thus,
in order that the wind might not catch their words, nor
the Coranians know what they might say. Then Llevelys
caused a long horn to be made of brass, and through this
horn they discoursed. But whatsoever words they spoke
through this horn, one to the other, neither of them could
hear any other but harsh and hostile words. And when
Llevelys saw this, and that there was a demon thwarting
them, and disturbing through this horn, he caused wine to
be put therein to wash it. And through the virtue of the
wine the demon was driven out of the horn. And when
their discourse was unobstructed, Llevelys told his brother
that he would give him some insects, whereof he should
keep some to breed, lest by chance the like affliction
mi^-ht come a second time. And other of these insects

O

he should take and bruise in water. And he assured him
that it would have power to destroy the race of the Cora-
nians. That is to say, that when he came home to his
kingdom, he should call together all the people, both of
his own race and of the race of the Coranians, for a
conference, as though with the intent of making peace
between them, and that when they were all together he

202 The Boy's Mabinogion.

should take this charmed water, and cast it over all alike.
And he assured him that the water would poison the race
of the Coranians, but that it would not slay or harm those
of his own race.

"And the second plague," said he, "that is in thy
dominion, behold it is a dragon. And another dragon of
a foreign race is fighting with it, and striving to overcome
it. And therefore does your dragon make a fearful outcry.
And on this wise mayest thou come to know this. After
thou hast returned home, cause the island to be measured
in its length and breadth ; and in the place where thou dost
find the exact central point, there cause a pit to be dug,
and cause a caldron full of the best mead that can be
made to be put in the pit, with a covering of satin over
the face of the caldron. And then in thine own person
do thou remain there watching, and thou wilt see the
dragons fighting in the form of terrific animals. And at
length they will take the form of dragons in the air. And
last of all, after wearying themselves with fierce and
furious fighting, they will fall, in the form of two pigs,
upon the covering, and they will sink in, and the covering
with them, and they will draw it down to the very bottom
of the caldron. And they will drink up the whole of
the mead ; and after that they will sleep. Thereupon do
thou immediately fold the covering around them, and bury
them in a kistvaen in the strongest place thou hast in thy
dominions, and hide them in the earth. And as long as
they shall bide in that strong place, no plague shall come
to the Island of Britain from elsewhere.

The Battle of the J'i.

The Story of Lludd and Llevelys.

"The cause of the third plague," said he, "is a mighty
man of magic, who takes thy meat and thy drink and thy
store. And he, through illusions and charms, causes every
one to sleep. Therefore it is needful for thee in thy
own person to watch thy food and thy provisions. And
lest he should overcome thee with sleep, be there a cal-
dron of cold water by thy side, and when thou art op-
pressed with sleep, plunge into the caldron."

Then Lludd returned back unto his land. And im-
mediately he summoned to him the whole of his own race
and of the Coranians. And, as Llevelys had taught him,
he bruised the insects in water, the which he cast over
them all together, and forthwith it destroyed the whole
tribe of the Coranians, without hurt to any of the
Britons.

And some time after this Lludd caused the island to be
measured in its length and in its breadth. And in Oxford
he found the central point, and in that place he caused
the earth to be dug, and in that pit a caldron to be set
full of the best mead that could be made, and a covering
of satin over the face of it. And he himself watched
that night. And while he was there, he beheld the
dragons fighting. And when they were weary they fell,
and came down upon the top of the satin, and drew it
with then: to the bottom of the caldron. And when
they had drunk the mead they slept. And in their
sleep Lludd folded the covering around them, and in
the securest place he had i-i Snowdon he hid them in

204 The B°y^s Mabinogion.

a kistvaen. Now after that, this spot was called Din£.s
Emreis, but before that, Dinas Ffaraon. And thus the
fierce outcry ceased in his dominions.

And when this was ended, King Lludd caused an ex
ceeding great banquet to be prepared. And when it
was ready, he placed a vessel of cold water by his side,
and he in his own proper person watched it. And as he
abode thus clad with arms, about the third watch of the
night, lo, he heard many surpassing fascinations and
various songs. And drowsiness urged him to sleep.
Upon this, lest he should be hindered from his purpose,
and be overcome by sleep, he went often into the water.
And at last, behold a man of vast size, clad in strong,
heavy armor, came in, bearing a hamper. And as he
was wont, he put all the food and provisions of meat and
drink into the hamper, and proceeded to go with it forth.
And nothing was ever more wonderful to Lludd than that
the hamper should hold so much.

And thereupon King Lludd went after him, and spoke
unto him thus : " Stop, stop," said he, " though thou hast
done many insults and much spoil erewhile, thou shalt
not do so any more, unless thy skill in arms and thy
prowess be greater than mine."

Then he instantly put down the hamper on the floor,
and awaited him. And a fierce encounter was between
them, so that the glittering fire flew out from their arms.
And at the last Lludd grappled with him, and fate be-
stowed the victory on Lludd. And he threw the plague

The Story of Lludd and Llevelys. 205

*o the earth. And after he had overcome him by strength
and might he besought his mercy.

"How can I grant thee mercy," said the king, "after
all the many injuries and wrongs that thou hast dune
me?"

"All the losses that ever I have caused thee," said he,
" I will make thee atonement for," equal to what I have
taken. And I will never do the like from this time forth.
But thy faithful vassal will I be."

And the king accepted this from h.'ra.

206 The Bo/s Mabinogion.

THE ORIGIN OF THE OWL.

[ENTITLED IN THE ORIGINAL, "MATH THE SON OF

MATHONWY."]

upon a time Gwydion found a yellow-haired
child in his chamber, which had been placed
there by magic art. And Gwydion straightway flung a
velvet scarf over the child and hid it.] Now the place
where he hid it was the bottom of a chest at the foot

of his bed.

"Verily," said Math the son of Mathonwy, concerning
the fine yellow-haired boy, " I will cause this one to be
baptized; and Dylan is the name I will give him."

So they had the boy baptized, and as they baptized him
he plunged into the sea. And immediately when he was
in the sea, he took its nature, and swam as well as the
best fish that was therein. And for that reason was he
called Dylan, the son of the Wave. Beneath him no
wave ever broke. And the blow whereby he came to
his death was struck by his uncle Govannion. The third
fatal blow was it called.

As Gwydion lay one morning on his bed awake, he
heard a cry in the chest at his feet ; and though it was
not loud, it was such that he could hear it. Then he

The Origin of the Owl. 207

arose in haste, and opened the chest ; and when he opened
it, he beheld an infant-boy stretching out his arms from
the folds of the scarf, and casting it aside. And he took
up the boy in his arms, and carried him to a place where
he knew there was a woman that could nurse him. And
he agreed with the woman that she should take charge of
the boy. And that year he was nursed.

And at the end of the year he seemed by his size as
though he were two years old. And the second year he
was a big child, and able to go to the court by himself.
And when he came to the court, Gwyclion noticed him,
and the boy became familiar with him, and loved him
better than any one else. Then was the boy reared at
the court until he was four years old, when he was as big
as though he had been eight.

And one day Gwydion walked forth, and the boy fol-
lowed him ; and he went to the Castle of Arianrod, having
the boy with him. And when he came into the court,
Arianrod arose to meet him, and greeted him, and bade
him welcome.

" Heaven prosper thee," said he.

" What is the name of the boy ? " said she.

"Verily," he replied, "he has not yet a name."

"Well," she said, " I lay this destiny upon him, that he
shall never have a name until he receives one from me.1

" Heaven bears me witness," answered he, " that thou
art a wicked woman. But the boy shall have a name,

' And the plot now becomes the artful contrivance by which Gwj
.hat Arianrod names the boy in spite of herself, will, other simiLr achievements.

20g The Boy's Mabinogion.

how displeasing soever it may be unto thee." And there-
upon he went forth in wrath, and returned to Caer Dathyl,
and there he tarried that night.

And the next day he arose and took the boy with him.
and went to walk on the seashore between that place and
Aber Menei. And there he saw some sedges and sea-
weed, and he turned them into a boat. And out of dry
sticks and sedges he made some Cordovan leather, and a
great deal thereof ; and he colored it in such a manner that
no one ever saw leather more beautiful than it. Then he
made a sail to the boat, and he and the boy went in it to
the port of the Castle of Arianrod. And he began forming
shoes, and stitching them, until he was observed from the
castle. And when he knew that they of the castle were
observing him, he disguised his aspect, and put another
semblance upon himself and upon the boy, so that they
might not be known.

" What men are those in yonder boat ? " said Arianrod.
"They are cordwainers," answered they.
" Go and see what kind of leather they have, and what
kind of work they can do."

So they came unto them. And when they came he was
coloring some Cordovan leather, and gilding it. And the
messengers came and told her this.

"Well," said she, "take the measure of my foot, and
desire the cordwainer to make shoes for me."

So he made the shoes for her, yet r ot according to the
measure, but larger. The shoes then were brought unto
her, and behold they were too large.

The Origin of the Owl. 209

" These are too large," said she ; " but he shall receive
their value. Let him also make some that are smaller
than they."

Then he made her others that were much smaller than
her foot, and sent them unto her.

" Tell him that these will not go on my feet," said she.
And they told him this.

"Verily," said he, " I will not make her any shoes unless
I see her foot." And this was told unto her.

"Truly," she answered, "I will go unto him."

So she went down to the boat, and when she came there
he was shaping shoes, and the boy stitching them.

"Ah, lady," said he, "good day to thee."

" Heaven prosper thee," said she. " I marvel that thou
canst not manage to make shoes according to measure."

" I could not," he replied ; " but now I shall be able."

Thereupon behold a wren stood upon the deck of the
boat ; and the boy shot at it, and hit it in the leg between
the sinew and the bone. Then she smiled. "Verily,"
said she, "with a steady hand did the lion aim at it.'

" Heaven reward thee not ; but now has he got a name.
And a good enough name it is. Llew Llaw Gyffes be he
called henceforth."

Then the work disappeared in seaweed and sedges, and
he went on with it no further. And for that reason \v;is
he called the third Gold-shoemaker.

"Of a truth," said she, "thou wilt not thrive the better
for doing evil unto me."

2IO The Boy's Mabinogion.

"I have done thee no evil yet," said he. Then he
restored the boy to his own form.

" Well," said she, " I will lay a destiny upon this boy,
that he shall never have arms and armor until I invest
him with them."

"By Heaven," said he, "let thy malice be what it may,
he shall have arms."

Then they went towards Dinas Dinllev, and there he
brought up Llew Llaw Gyffes until he could manage any
horse, and he was perfect in features and strength and
stature. And then Gwydion saw that he languished
through the want of horses and arms. And he called
him unto him. "Ah, youth," said he, "we will go
to-morrow on an errand together. Be therefore more
cheerful than thou art."

" That I will," said the youth.

Next morning, at the dawn of day, they arose. And
they took way along the seacoast, up towards Bryn
Aryen. And at the top of Cevn Clydno they equipped
themselves with horses, and went towards the Castle of
Arianrod. And they changed their form, and pricked
towards the gate in the semblance of two youths ; but the
aspect of Gwydion was more staid than that of the other.
" Porter," said he, " go thou in and say that there are
here bards from Glamorgan."

And the porter went in.

" The welcc me of Heaven be unto them. Let them in,"
said Arianrod.

The Origin of the Owl. 2 1 1

With great joy were they greeted. And the hall was
arranged, and they went to meat. When meat was ended,
Arianrod discoursed with Gwydion of tales and stories
Now Gwydion was an excellent teller of tales. And when
it was time to leave off feasting, a chamber was prepared
for them, and they went to rest.

In the early twilight Gwydion arose, and he called unto
him his magic and his power. And by the time that the
day dawned, there resounded through the land uproar, and
trumpets and shouts. When it was now day, they heard
a knocking at the door of the chamber, and therewith
Arianrod asking that it might be opened. Up rose the
youth and opened unto her, and she entered, and a maiden
with her. " Ah, good men," she said, " in evil plight are

we."

" Yes, truly," said Gwydion, " we have heard trumpets,
and shouts. What thinkest thou that they may mean ? '

"Verily," said she, "we cannot see the color of the
ocean by reason of all the ships side by side. And they
are making for the land with all the speed they can. And
what can we do ? " said she.

"Lady," said Gwydion, "there is none other counsel
than to close the castle upon us, and to defend it as best

we may."

"Truly," said she, "may Heaven reward you And do
you defend it. And here may you have plenty of arms."

And thereupon went she forth for the arms, and behold
she returned, and two maidens, and suits of armor for two
men, with her.

2I2 The Boys Mabinogion.

" Lady," said he, " do thou accoutre this stripling, and
I will arm myself, with the help of thy maidens. Lo, I
hear the tumult of the men approaching."

" I will do so gladly." So she armed him fully, and that
right cheerfully.

" Hast thou finished arming the youth ? " said he.

" I have finished," she answered.

"I likewise have finished," said Gwydion. "Let us
now take off our arms : we have no need of them."

"Wherefore?" said she. "Here is the army around
the house."

"Oh, lady, there is here no army."

" Oh ! " cried she. " Whence then was this tumult ? "

"The tumult was but to break thy prophecy, and to
obtain arms for thy son. And now has he got arms with-
out any thanks unto thee."

" By Heaven," said Arianrod, " thou art a wicked man.
Many a youth might have lost his life through the uproar
thou hast caused in this Cantrev to-day. Now will I lay
a destiny upon this youth," she said, "that he shall never
have a wife of the race that now inhabits this earth."

"Verily," said he, "thou wast ever a malicious woman,
and no one ought to support thee. A wife shall he have
notwithstanding."

They went thereupon unto Math the son of Mathonwy,
and complained unto him most bitterly of Arianrod,
Gwydion showed him also how he had procured arms for
the youth. "Well," said Math, "we will seek, I and

The Origin of the Owl. 2 1 3

thou, by charms and illusion, to form a wife for him out
of flowers. He has now come to man's stature, and he is
the comeliest youth that was ever beheld."

So they took the blossoms of the oak, and the blossoms
of the broom, and the blossoms of the meadow-sweet, and
produced from them a maiden, the fairest and most grace-
ful that man ever saw. And they baptized her, and gave
her the name of Blodeuwedd.

After she had become his bride, and they had feasted,
said Gwydion, " It is not easy for a man to maintain him-
self without possessions."

" Of a truth," said Math, " I will give the young man
the best Cantrev to hold."

" Lord," said he, " what Cantrev is that ? "

"The Cantrev of Dinodig," he answered.

Now it is called at this day Eivionydd and Ardudwy.
And the place in the Cantrev where he dwelt was a
palace of his in a spot called Mur y Castell, on the con-
fines of Ardudwy. There dwelt he and reigned, and both
he and his sway were beloved by all.

One day he went forth to Caer Dathyl to visit Math
the son of Mathonwy. And on the day that he set out
for Caer Dathyl, Blodeuwedd walked in the court. And
she heard the sound of a horn. And after the sound of
the horn, behold a tired stag went by, with dogs and
huntsmen following it. And after the dogs and the
huntsmen there came a crowd of mer. on foot. Send a
youth," said she, "to ask who yonder lost may be."

214 The Boy's Mabinogicn.

So a youth went and inquired who they were. " Gronw
Pebyr is this, the lord of Penllynn," said they. And thus
the youth told her.

Gronw Pebyr pursued the stag, and by the River Cynvael
he overtook the stag, and killed it. And what with flaying
the stag, and baiting his dogs, he was there until the night
began to close in upon him. And as the day departed and
the night drew near, he came to the gate of the court.
"Verily," said Blodeuwedd, "the chieftain will speak ill
of us if we let him at this hour depart to another land
without inviting him in."

"Yes, truly, lady," said they, "it will be most fitting to
invite him."

Then went messengers to meet him, and bid him in.
And he accepted her bidding gladly, and came to the
court ; and Blodeuwedd went to meet him and greeted
him, and bade him welcome. " Lady," said he, " Heaven
repay thee thy kindness."

[Now Blodeuwedd, in spite of her descent from the
flowers, was at heart a wicked woman, and so she began
to plot with Gronw Pebyr how they might slay the valiant
Llew Llaw Gyffes, and enjoy his possessions. Then
Gronw said to her,] " Converse with him fully, and find
out by what means he may come to his death."

That night Llew Llaw Gyffes returned to his home
And the day they spent in discourse and minstrelsy and
feasting. And at night they went to rest, and he spoke
to Blodeuvedd once, and he spoke to her a second time.

Tlie Origin of the Owl. 2 1 5

But for all this he could not get from her one word.
" What aileth thee ? " said he. " Art thou well ? "

;< I was thinking," said she, " of that which thou didst
never think of concerning me ; for I was sorrowful as to
thy death, lest thou shouldst go sooner than I."

" Heaven reward thy care for me," said he. " But until
Heaven take me I shall not easily be slain."

" For the sake of heaven, and for mine, show me how
thou mightest be slain. My memory in guarding is better
than thine."

" I will tell thee gladly," said he. " Not easily can I be
slain, except by a wound. And the spear wherewith I
am struck must be a year in the forming. And nothing
must be done towards it, except during the sacrifice on
Sundays."

" Is this certain ? " asked she.

"It is in truth," he answered. "And I cannot be slain
within a house nor without. I cannot be slain on horse-
back nor on foot."

" Verily," said she, " in what manner, then, canst thou
be slain ? "

'• I will tell thee," said he. " By making a bath for me
by the side of a river, and by putting a roof over the
caldron, and thatching it well and tightly, and bringing
a buck, and putting it beside the caldron. Then if I
place one foot on the buck's back, and the other on the
edge of the caldron, whosoever strikes me thus will cause
my death."

2I6 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" Well," said she, " I thank Heaven that it will be easy

to avoid this."

No sooner had she held this discourse than she sent to
Gronw Pebyr. Gronw toiled at making the spear, and
that day twelvemonth it was ready. And that very day
he caused her to be informed thereof.

"Lord," said Blodeuwedd unto Llew, "I have been
thinking how it is possible that what thou didst tell me
formerly can be true. Wilt thou show me in what manner
thou couldst stand at once upon the edge of a caldron and
upon a buck, if I prepare the bath for thee ? >:

" I will show thee," said he,

Then she sent unto Gronw, and bade him be in ambush
on the hill which is now called Bryn Kyvergyr, on the
bank of the River Cynvael. She caused also to be col-
lected all the goats that were in the Cantrev, and had
them brought to the other side of the river, opposite Bryn
Kyvergyr.

And the next day she spoke thus : " Lord," said she,
" I have caused the roof and the bath to be prepared, and
lo ! they are ready."

"Well," said Llew, " we will go gladly to look at them."

The day after they came and looked at the bath. " Wilt
thou go into the bath, lord ? " said she.

" Willingly will I go in," he answered. So into tfc e bath
he went, and he anointed himself.

" Lord," said she, " behold the animals which thou didst
speak of as being called bucks."

The Origin of the Owl. 2 1 7

"Well," said he, "cause one of them to be caught and
brought here." And the buck was brought. Then Llew
rose out of the bath, and put on his trowsers, and he
placed one foot on the edge of the bath, and the other
on the buck's back.

Thereupon Gronw rose up from the hill which is called
Bryn Cyvergyr, and he rested on one knee, and flung the
poisoned dart, and struck him on the side, so that the
shaft started out, but the head of the dart remained
in. Then he flew up in the form of an eagle, and
gave a fearful scream. And thenceforth was he no more
seen.

And the next day Gronw arose, and took possession of
Ardudwy. And after he had overcome the land, he ruled
over it, so that Ardudwy and Penllyn were both under his
sway.

Then these tidings reached Math the son of Mathonwy.
And heaviness and grief came upon Math, and much more
upon Gwydion than upon him. "Lord," said Gwydion,
" I shall never rest until I have tidings of my nephew."

"Verily," said Math, "may Heaven be thy strength."

Then Gwydion set forth, and began to go forward.
And he went through Gwynedd and Powys tc the con-
fines. And when he had done so, he went into Arvon,
and came to the house of a vassal in Maenawr Penardd.
And he alighted at the house, and staid there that
nio-ht. The man of the house and his household came

&

in, and last of all came there the swineherd. Said the

2i8 The Boy's Mabinogion.

man of the house t.> the swineherd, "Well, youth, hath
thy sow come in to-night ? "

"She hath," said he, "and is this instant returned to

the pigs."

" Where doth this sow go to ? " said Gwydion.

" Every day, when the sty is opened, she goeth forth,
and none can catch sight of her, neither is it known
whither she goeth more than if she sank into the earth."

"Wilt thou grant unto me," said Gwydion, "not to
open the sty until I am beside the sty with thee ? "

" This will I do right gladly," he answered.

That night they went to rest. And as soon as the swine-
herd saw the light of day, he awoke Gwydion. And
Gwydion arose and dressed himself, and went with the
swineherd, and stood beside the sty. Then the swineherd
opened the sty. And as soon as he opened it, behold she
leaped forth, and set off with great speed. And Gwydion
followed her. And she went against the course of a river,
and made for a brook, which is now called Nant y Llew.
And there she halted, and began feeding under a tree.
And Gwydion came under the tree, and looked, and as he
looked he beheld on the top of the tree an eagle. And it
seemed to him that the eagle was Llew. And he sang an
Englyn : —

" Oak that grows betweer the two banks ;
Darkened is the sky arm hill !
Shall I not tell him by his wounds,
That this is Llew ? "

The Origin of the Owl. 2 1 9

Upon this the eagle came down until he reached the
centre of the tree. And Gwydion sang another Englyn : —

" Oak that grows in upland ground,
Is it not wetted by the rain ? Has it not been drenched
By ninescore tempests ?
It bears in its branches Llew Llaw Gyffes ! "

Then the eagle came down until he was on the lowest
branch of the tree, and thereupon this Englyn did
Gwydion sing : —

" Oak that grows beneath the steep ;
Stately and majestic is its aspect !
Shall I not speak it ?
That Llaw will come to my lap ? "

And the eagle came down upon Gwydion's knee. A id
Gwydion struck him with his magic wand, so that he
returned to his own form. No one ever saw a more
piteous sight, for he was nothing but skin and bone.

Then he went unto Caer Dathyl, and there were
brought unto him good physicians that were in Gwyn-
edd, and before the end of the year he was quite healed.

" Lord," said he unto Math the son of Mathonwy, " it
is full time now that I have retribution of him by whom I
have suffered all this woe."

"Truly," said Math, "he will never be able to maintain
himself in the possession of that which is thy right.'

"Well," said Llew, "the sooner I have my right, the
better shall I be pleased."

22o The Boy's Mabinogion.

Then the) called together the whole of Gwynedd, and
set forth to Ardudwy. And Gwydion went on before,
and proceeded to Mur y Castell. And when Blodeuwedd
heard that he was coming, she took her maidens with her,
and fled to the mountain. And they passed through the
River Cynvael, and went towards a court that there was
upon the mountain ; and through fear they could not pro-
ceed except with their faces looking backwards, so that
unawares they fell into the lake. And they were all
drowned except Blodeuwedd herself ; and her Gwydion
overtook. And he said unto her, " I will not slay thee ;
but I will do unto thee worse than that. For I will turn
thee into a bird. And because of the shame thou hast
done unto Llew Llaw Gyffes, thou shalt never show thy
face in the light of day henceforth ; and that through fear
of all the other birds. For it shall be their nature to
attack thee, and to chase thee from wheresoever they may
fmd thee. And thou shalt not lose thy name, but shalt be
always called Blodeuwedd."

Now Blodeuwedd is an owl in the language of this
present time ; and for this reason is the owl hateful unto
all birds. And even now the owl is called Blodeuwedd,

Then Gronw Pebyr withdrew unto Penllyn, and he
despatched thence an embassy. And the messengers he
sent asked Llew Llaw Gyffes if he would take land, or
domain, or gold, or silver, for the injury he had received.

" I will not, by my confession to Heaven," said he.
"Behold this is the least that I will accept from him:

The Flight of BlodemvL-iM an 1 Her Mru<len.>.

The Origin of the Owl. 2 2 1

that he come to the spot where I was when he wounded
me with the dart, and that I stand where he did, and that
with a dart I take my aim at him. And this is the very
least that I will accept."

And this was told unto Gronw Pebyr. " Verily," said
he, " is it needful for me to do thus ? My faithful warriors,
and my household, and my foster-brothers, is there not
one among you who will stand the blow in my stead ? "

"There is not verily," answered they. And because of
their refusal to suffer one stroke for their lord, they are
called the third disloyal tribe even unto this day.

"Well," said he, " I will meet it."

Then they two went forth to the banks of the River
Cynvael ; and Gronw stood in the place where Llew Llaw
Gyffes was when he struck him, and Llew in the place
where Gronw was. Then said Gronw Pebyr unto Llew,
"Since it was through the wiles of a woman that I did
unto thee as I have done, I adjure thee by Heaven to let
me place between me and the blow the slab thou seest
yonder on the river's bank."

"Verily," said Llew, "I will not refuse thee this."

" Ah," said he, " may Heaven reward thee."

So Gronw took the slab, and placed it between him and
the blow.

Then Llew flung the dart at him, and it pierced the
slab, and went threw Gronw likewise, so that it pierced
through his back. And thus was Gronw Pebyr slain.
And there is still the slab an the bank of the River

222 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Cynvael in Ardudwy, having the hole through it. And
therefore is it even now called Llech Gronw.

A second time did Llew Llaw Gyffes take possession of
the land, and prosperously did he govern it. And, as the
stDry relates, he was lord after this over Gwynedd.

Branwen the Daughter of Llyr. 223

BRANWEN THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR.

T)ENDIGEID VRAN,the son of Llyr, was the crowned
•*~^ king of this island, and he was exalted from the crown
of London. And one afternoon he was at Harlech in
Ardudwy, at his court, and he sat upon the rock of Har-
lech, looking over the sea. And with him were his brother
Manawyddan the son of Llyr, and his brothers by the
mother's side, Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles
likewise, as was fitting to see around a king. His two
brothers by the mother's side were the sons of Euross-
wydd, by his mother, Penardun, the daughter of Beli son
of Manogan. And one of these youths was a good youth,
and of gentle nature, and would make peace between his
kindred, and cause his family to be friends when their
wrath was at the highest ; and this one was Nissyen : but
the other would cause strife between his two brothers
when they were most at peace. And as they sat thus,
they beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ire-
land, and making towards them ; and they came with a
swift motion, the wind being behind them, and they nearoi
them rapidly. " I see ships afar," said the king, "comin-
swiftly towards the land. Command the men of the court
that they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent.

224 The Boy's Mabinogion.

So the men equipped themselves, and went down towards
them. And when they saw the ships near, certain were
they that they had never seen ships better furnished.
Beautiful flags of satin were upon them. And behold
one of the ships outstripped the others. And they saw a
shield lifted up above the side of the ship, and the point
of the shield was upwards, in token of peace. And the
men drew near, that they might hold converse. Then
they put out boats, and came towards the land. And they
saluted the king. Now the king could hear them from
the place where he was, upon the rock above their heads.
"Heaven prosper you," said he, "and be ye welcome.
To whom do these ships belong ? and who is the chief
amongst you ? "

"Lord," said they, "Matholwch, King of Ireland, is
here, and these ships belong to him."

"Wherefore comes he? "asked the king. "And will
he come to the land ? "

"He is a suitor unto thee, lord," said they. "And
he will not land, unless he have his boon."

"And what may that be ? " inquired the king.

"He desires to ally himself with thee, lord," said they.
"And he comes to ask Bran wen the daughter of Llyr,
that, if it seem well to thee, the Island of the Mighty
may be leagued with Ireland, and both become more
powerful."

'Verily," said he, "let him come to land, and we will
take counsel thereupon."

Branwcn the Daughter of Llyr. 225

And this answer was brought to Matholwch. "I will
go willingly," said he. So he landed, and they received
him joyfully. And great was the throng in the palace
that night, between his hosts and those of the court ;
and next day they took counsel, and they resolved to
bestow Branwen upon Matholwch. Now she was one
of the three chief ladies of this island, and she was the
fairest damsel in the world.

And they fixed upon Aberffraw as the place where she
should become his bride. And they went thence, and
towards Aberffraw the hosts proceeded, — Matholwch and
his host in their ships ; Bendigeid Vran and his host by
land, until they came to Aberffraw. And at Aberffraw
they began the feast, and sat down. And thus sat they :
the King of the Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan
the son of Llyr on one side, and Matholwch on the other
side, and Branwen the daughter of Llyr beside him. And
they were not within a house, but under tents. No house
could ever contain Bendigeid Vran. And they began
the banquet, and caroused and discoursed. And when
it was more pleasing to them to sleep than to carouse,
they went to rest; and that night Branwen became
Matholwch's bride.

And next day they arose, and all they of the court,
and the officers began to equip and to range the horses
and the attendants; and they ranged them in order .is

far as the sea.

And behold one day, Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man

226 The Boy's Mabinogion.

of whom it is spoken above, came by chance into the
place where the horses of Matholwch were, and asked
whose horses they might be.

" They are the horses of Matholwch, King of Ireland,
who is married to Branwen thy sister: his horses are

they."

" And is it thus they have done with a maiden such as
she, and moreover my sister, bestowing her without my
consent ? They could have offered no greater insult to
me than this," said he. And thereupon he rushed under
the horses, and cut off their lips at the teeth, and their
ears close to their heads, and their tails close to their
backs, and wherever he could clutch their eyelids, he cut:
them to the very bone, and he disfigured the horses, and
rendered them useless.

And they came with these tidings unto Matholwch,
saying that the horses were disfigured and injured, so
that not one of them could ever be of any use again.
" Verily, lord," said one, " it was an insult unto thee, and
as such was it meant."

" Of a truth, it is a marvel to me," that, if they desire
to insult me, they should have given me a maiden of such
high rank, and so much beloved of her kindred, as they
have done."

"Lord," said another, "thou seest that thus it is, and
there is nothing for thee to do but to go to thy ships."
And thereupon towards his ships he set out.

And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholwch

Branwen the DaugJitcr of Llyr, 227

was quitting the court without asking leave ; and mes-
sengers were sent to inquire of him wherefore he did
so. And the messengers that went were Iddic the son
of Anarawd, and Heveydd Hir. And these overtook
him, and asked of him what he designed to do, and
wherefore he went forth. "Of a truth," said he, "if I
had known, I had not come hither. I have been altogether
insulted : no one had ever worse treatment than I have
had here. But one thing surprises me above all."

"What is that?" asked they.

" That Branwen the daughter of Llyr, one of the three
chief ladies of this island, and the daughter of the King
of the Island of the Mighty, should have been given me
as my bride, and that after that I should have been
insulted ; and I marvel that the insult was not done me
before they had bestowed upon me a maiden so exalted as
she."

" Truly, lord, it was not the will of any that are of the
court," said they, "nor of any that are of the council,
that thou shouldest have received this insult ; and as thou
hast been insulted, the dishonor is greater unto Bendigeid
Vran than unto thee."

"Verily," said he, "I think so. Nevertheless he cannot
recall the insult."

These men returned with that answer to the place
where Bendigeid Vran was, and they told him what reply
Matholwch had given them. "Truly," said he, "there
are no means by which we may prevent his going away at
enmity with us, that we will not take."

228 The Boy's Mabinogion.

"Well, lord," said they, "send after him another
embassy."

" I will do so," said he. " Arise, Manawyddan son of
Llyr, and Heveydd Hir, and Unic Glew Ysgwyd, and go
after him, and tell him that he shall have a sound horse
for every one that has been injured. And beside that,
as an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of
silver as large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold
of the breadth of his face. And show unto him who it
was that did this, and that it was done against my will ;
but that he who did it is my brother by the mother's side,
and therefore it would be hard for me to put him to death.
And let him come and meet me," said he, " and we will
make peace in any way he may desire."

The embassy went after Matholwch, and told him all
these sayings in a friendly manner, and he listened there-
unto. "Men," said he, "I will take counsel." So to the
council he went. And in the council they considered that
if they should refuse this, they were likely to have more
shame rather than to obtain so great an atonement. They
i esolved therefore to accept it, and they returned to the
court in peace.

Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order after
the fashion of a hall ; and they went to meat. And as they
had sat at the beginning of the feast, so sat they there.
And Matholwch and Bendigeid Vran began to discourse ;
and behold it seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked,
that Matholwch was not so cheerful as he had been before.

Branwen the Daughter of Llyr. 229

And he thought that the chieftain might be sad because
of the smallness of the atonement which he had for the
wrong that had been done him. " Oh, man," said Bendi-
geid Vran, "thou dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully
as thou wast wont. And if it be because of the smallness
of the atonement, thou shalt add thereunto whatsoever
thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I will pay thee the
horses."

" Lord," said he, "Heaven reward thee."

" And I will enhance the atonement," said Bendigeid
Vran ; " for I will give unto thee a caldron, the property
of which is, that if one of thy men be slain to-day, and be
cast therein, to-morrow he will be as well as ever he was
at the best, except that he will not regain his speech."

And thereupon he gave him great thanks, and very
joyful was he for that cause.

And the next morning they paid Matholwch the horses
as long as the trained horses lasted. And then they
journeyed into another commot, where they paid him
with colts until the whole had been paid; and from
thenceforth that commot was called Talebolion.

And a second night sat they together. "My lord,"
said Matholwch, "whence hadst thru the caldron which
thou hast given me?'

" I had it of a man who had been in thy land," said he,
"and I would not give it except to one from there.1

" Who was it ? " asked he.

"Llassar Llaesgyvnewid. He came here from Ireland

230 Tke Boy's Mabinogion.

with Kymideu Kymeinvoll, his wife, who escaped from
the Iron House in Ireland when it was made red hot
around them, and fled hither. And it is a marvel to
me that thou shouldst know nothing concerning the

matter."

"Something I do know," said he, "and as much as I
know I will tell thee. One day I was hunting in Ireland,
and I came to the mound at the head of the lake, which is
called the Lake of the Caldron. And I beheld a huge
yellow-haired man coming from the lake, with a caldron
upon his back. And he was a man of vast size and of
horrid aspect, and a woman followed after him. And if
the man was tall, twice as large as he was the woman ;
and they came towards me and greeted me. So I took
them with me, and maintained them. And they were with
me for a year. And that year I had them with me not
grudgingly. But thenceforth was there murmuring be-
cause that they were with me. For from the beginning

J O ' O

of the fourth month they had begun to make themselves
hated, and to be disorderly in the land, committing out-
rages, and molesting and harassing the nobles and ladies.
And thenceforward my people rose up and besought me to
part with them, and they bade me to choose between them
and my dominions. And I applied to the council of my
country to know what should be done concerning them ;
for of their own free will they would not go, neither could
they be compelled against their will, through fighting.
And [the people of the country] being in this strait, they

Branwen the Daughter of Llyr. 23 1

caused a chamber to be made all of iron. Now, when the
chamber was ready, there came there every smith that
was in Ireland, and every one who owned tongs and
hammer. And they caused coals to be piled up as high
as the top of the chamber. And they had the man, and
the woman, and the children, served with plenty of meat
and drink ; but when it was known that they were drunk,
they began to put fire to the coals about the chamber, and
they blew it with bellows until the house was red hot
all around them. Then was there a council held in the
centre of the floor of the chamber. And the man tarried
until the plates of iron were all of a white-heat ; and then,
by reason of the great heat, the man dashed against the
plates with his shoulder and struck them out, and his wife
followed him ; but, except him and his wife, none escaped
thence. And then I suppose, lord," said Matholwch, unto
Bendigeid Vran, "that he came over unto thee."

"Doubtless he came here," said he, "and gave unto me
the caldron."

" In what manner didst thou receive them ? '

" I dispersed them through every part of my dominions,
and they have become numerous, and are prospering every-
where, and they fortify the places where they are with men
and arms of the best that were ever seen."

That night they continued to discourse as much as they
would, and had minstrelsy and carousing ; and when it was
more pleasant to them to sleep than to sit longer, they
went to rest. And thus was the banquet carried on with

232 The Boy's Mabinogion.

joyousness; and when it was finished, Matholwch jour-
neyed towards Ireland, and Branwen with him, and they
went from Aber Menei with thirteen ships, and came to
Ireland. And in Ireland was there great joy because of
their coming. And not one great man or noble lady
visited Branwen unto whom she gave not either a clasp,
or a ring, or a royal jewel to keep, such as it was honor-
able to be seen departing with. And in these things she
spent that year in much renown, and she passed her time
pleasantly, enjoying honor and friendship.

And behold, in the second year a tumult arose in Ire-
land, on account of the insult which Matholwch had
received in Cambria, and the payment made him for his
horses. And his foster-brothers, and such as were nearest
unto him, blamed him openly for that matter. And he
might have no peace by reason of the tumult until they
should revenge upon him this disgrace. And the ven-
geance which they took was to drive away Branwen
from the same chamber with him, and to make her cook
for the court. And they caused the butcher, after he had
cut up the meat, to come to her and give her every day a
blow on the ear, and such they made her punishment.

"Verily, lord," said his men to Matholwch, "forbid now
the ships and the ferry-boats and the coracles, that they
go not into Cambria ; and such as come over from Cambria
hither, imprison them that they go not back for this thing
to be known there." And he did so ; and t was thus for
no less than three years.

Branwen the Daiigltier of Llyr. 233

And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the
kneading-trough, and she taught it to speak, and she
taught the bird what manner of man her brother was
And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the despite with
which she was treated ; and she bound the letter to the
root of the bird's wing, and sent it towards Britain. And
the bird came to this island ; and one day it found Bendi-
geid Vran at Caer Seiont in Arvon, conferring there, and
it alighted upon his shoulder, and ruffled its feathers, so
that the letter was seen, and they knew that the bird had
been reared in a domestic manner.

Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it.
And when he had read the letter he grieved exceedingly
at the tidings of Branwen's woes. And immediately he
began sending messengers to summon the island together.
And he caused sevenscore and four countries to come unto
him, and he complained to them himself of the grief that
his sister endured. So they took counsel. And in the
council they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven
men as princes here, and Caradawc the son of Bran as
the chief of them, and their seven knights. In Edeyr-
nion were these men left. And these abode as seven
ministers to take charge of this island ; and Caradawc the
son of Bran was the chief amongst them.

Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed
towards Ireland, and it was not far across the sea, and he
came to shoal water. It was but by two rivers ; the Lli
and the Archan were they called ; and the nations

234 The Boy's Mabinogion.

covered the sea. Then he proceeded with what pro-
visions he had on his own back, and approached the shore
of Ireland.

Now the swineherds of Matholwch were upon the sea-
shore, and they came to Matholwch. " Lord," said they,
"greeting be unto thee."

" Heaven protect you ! " said he, " have you any news ? "

" Lord," said they, " we have marvellous news : a wood
have we seen upon the sea in a place where we never yet
saw a single tree."

" This is indeed a marvel," said he. " Saw you aught
else?"

"We saw, lord," said they, "a vast mountain beside
the wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on
the top of the mountain, and a lake on each side of the
ridge. And the wood, and the mountain, and all these
things moved."

" Verily," said he, " there is none who can know aught
concerning this, unless it be Branwen."

Messengers then went unto Branwen. "Lady," said
they, "what thinkest thou that this is ? "

" The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have come
hither on hearing of my ill-treatment and my woes."

' What is the forest that is seen upon the sea ? " asked
they.

' The yards and the masts of ships," she answered.
" Alas ! " said they, " what is the mountain that is seen
by the side of the ships ? "

Branwcn the Daug liter of Llyr. 235

"Bendigeid Vran, my brother," she replied, " coming to
shoal water: there is no ship that can contain him in it."

" What is the lofty ridge with the lake on each side
thereof?"

" On looking towards this island he is wroth ; and his
two eyes, one on each side of his nose, are the two lakes
beside the ridge."

The warriors and the chief men of Ireland were brought
togetner in haste, and they took counsel. " Lord," said
the nobles unto Matholwch, "there is no other counsel
than to retreat over the Linon (a river which is in Ireland),
and to keep the river between thee and him, and to break
down the bridge that is across the river ; for there is a
loadstone at the bottom of the river that neither ship nor
vessel can pass over." So they retreated across the river
and broke down the bridge.

Bendigeid Vran came to land, and the fleet with him
by the bank of the river. " Lord," said his chieftains,
" knowest thou the nature of this river, that nothing can
go across it, and there is no bridge over it ? What," said
they, "is thy counsel concerning a bridge ? '

" There is none," said he, " except that he who will be
chief let him be a bridge. I will be so," said he. And
then was that saying first uttered, and it is still used as a
proverb. And when he had lain down across the river,
hurdles were placed upon him, and the host passed over

thereby.

And as he rose p, behold the messengers of Matholwch

236 The Boy's Mabinogion.

came to him, and saluted him, and gave him greeting in
the name of Matholwch his kinsman, and showed how
that of his good-will he had merited him nothing but
good. " For Matholwch has given the kingdom of Ire-
land to Gwern the son of Matholwch, thy nephew and
thy sister's son. And this he places before thee as a
compensation for the wrong and despite that has been
done unto Branwen. And Matholwch shall be maintained
wheresoever thou wilt, either here or in the Island of the
Mighty."

Said Bendigeid Vran, " Shall not I myself have the
kingdom ? Then peradventure I may take- counsel con-
cerning your message. From this time until then no
other answer will you get from me."

"Verily," said they, "the best message that we receive
for thee we will convey it unto thee, and do thou await
our message unto him."

" I will wait," answered he ; " and do you return
quickly."

The messengers set forth and came to Matholwch.
"Lord," said they, "prepare a better message for Bendi-
geid Vran. He would not listen at all to the message
that we bore him."

"My friends," said Matholwch, "what may be your
counsel ?"

;'Lord," said they, "there is no other counsel than this
alone. He was never known to be within a house, make
therefore a house that will contar him and the men of

Branwen the Daughter oj Llyr. 237

the Island of the Mighty on the one side, and thyself
and thy host on the other, and give over thy kingdom to
his will, and do him homage. So by reason of the honor
thou doest him in making him a house, whereas he m
before had a house to contain him, he will make peace
with thee." So the messengers went back to Bendigeid
Vran, bearing him this message.

And he took counsel, and in the council it was resolved
that he should accept this ; and this was all done by the
advice of Branwen, and lest the country should be de-
stroyed. And this peace was made, and the house was
built both vast and strong. But the Irish planned a
crafty device, and the craft was that they should put
brackets on each side of the hundred pillars that were
in the house, and should place a leathern bag on each
bracket, and an armed man in every one of them. Then
Evnissyen came in before the host of the Island of I lie
Mighty, and scanned the house with fierce and suv
looks, and descried the leathern bags which were around
the pillars. "What is in this bag?" asked he of one of
the Irish.

" Meal, good soul," said he. And Evnissyen felt about
it until he came to the man's head, and he squeezed the
head [until he killed the man].

And he left that one, and put his hand upon another,
and asked what was therein. " Meal," said the Irishman.
So he did the like unto every one of them, until he 1
not left alive of all the two hundred men save one only ;

238 The Boy's Mabinogion.

and when he came to him he asked what was there.
"Meal, good soul," said the Irishman. And he felt about
until he felt the head, and he squeezed that head as he
had done the others. And, albeit he found that the head
of this one was armed, he left him not until he had killed
him. And then he sang an Englyn : —

" There is in this bag a different sort of meal,
The ready combatant, when the assault is made
By his fellow-warriors, prepared for battle."

Thereupon came the hosts unto the house. The men
of the Island of Ireland entered the house on the one
side, and the men of the Island of the Mighty on the
other. And as soon as they had sat down there was
concord between them ; and the sovereignty was con-
ferred upon the boy. When the peace was concluded,
Bendigeid Vran called the boy unto him, and from Bendi-
geid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan, and he was
beloved by all that beheld him. And. from Manawyddan
the boy was called by Nissyen the son of Eurossvvydd,
and the boy went unto him lovingly. "Wherefore," said
Evnissyen, " comes not my nephew the son of my sister
unto me? Though he were not king of Ireland, yet
willingly would I fondle the boy."

" Cheerfully let him go to thee," said Bendigeid Vran,
and the boy went unto him cheerfully.

;'By my confession to Heaven," sa d Evnissyen in his
heart, "unthought of by the household is the slaughter
that I will this instant commit."

Branwe.li the Daughter of Llyr. 239

Then he arose and took up the boy by the feet, and
before any one in the house could seize hold of him, he
thrust the boy headlong into the blazing fire. And when
Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, she strove to
leap into the fire also, from the place where she sat
between her two brothers. But Bendigeid Vran grasped
her with one hand, and his shield with the other. Then
they all hurried about the house, and never was there
made so great a tumult by any host in one house as was
made by them, as each man armed himself. Then said
Morddwydtyllyon, "The gadflies of Morddwydtyllyon's
Cow ! " And while they all sought their arms, Bendigeid
Vran supported Branwen between his shield and his
shoulder.

Then the Irish kindled a fire under the caldron o,.
renovation, and they cast the dead bodies into the cal-
dron until it was full, and the next day they came forth
fighting-men as good as before, except that they were not
able to speak. Then when Evnissyen saw the dead
bodies of the men of the Island of the Mighty nowhere
resuscitated, he said in his heart, " Alas ! " woe is me, that
I should have been the cause of bringing the men of the
Island of the Mighty into so great a strait. Evil betide
me if I find not a deliverance therefrom." And he cast
himself among the dead bodies of the Irish, and two un-
shod Irishmen came to him, and, taking him to be one of
the Irish, flung him into the caldron. And he stretched
himself out in the caldron, so that he rent the caldron
into four pieces, and burst his own heart also.

240 The Boy's Mabinogion.

In consequence of that the men of the Island of the
Mighty obtained such success as they had ; but they were
not victorious, for only seven men of them all escaped,
and Bendigeid Vran himself was wounded in the foot with
a poisoned dart. Now the seven men that escaped were
Pryderi, Manawyddan, Gluneu Eil Taran, Taliesin, Ynawc,
Grudyen the son of Muryel, and Heilyn the son of Gwynn

Hen.

And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should
cut off his head. "And take you my head," said he, "and
bear it even unto the White Mount, in London, and bury
it there, with the face towards France. And a long time
will you be upon the road. In Harlech you will be feast-
ing seven years, the birds of Rhiannon singing unto you
the while. And all that time the head will be to you as
pleasant company as it ever was when on my body. And
at Gwales in Penvro you will be fourscore years, and you
may remain there, and the head with you uncorrupted,
until you open the door that looks towards Aber Hen-
velen, and towards Cornwall. And after you have opened
that door, there you may no longer tarry, set forth then
to London to bury the head, and go straight forward."

So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward
therewith. And Bran wen was the eighth with them, and
they came to land at Aber Alaw, in Talebolyon, and they
sat down to rest. And Branwen looked towards Ireland
and towards the Island of the Mighty, to see if she could
descry them. "Alas," said she, "woe is me that I was

Bramven the Daughter of Llyr, 241

ever born : two islands have been destroyed because of
me ! " Then she uttered a loud groan, and there broke
her heart. And they made her a foursided grave, and
buried her upon the banks of the Alaw.

Then the seven men journeyed forward towards Ilar-
lech, bearing the head with them ; and as they went
behold there met them a multitude of men and of
women. " Have you any tidings ? " asked Manawyddan.

" We have none," said they, " save that Caswallawn the
son of Beli, has conquered the Island of the Mighty, and
is crowned king in London."

"What has become," said they "of Caradawc the son
of Bran, and the seven men who were left with him in
this island?"

•' Caswallawn came upon them, and slew six of the men,
and Caradawc's heart broke for grief thereof; for he could
see the sword that slew the men, but knew not who it was
that wielded it. Caswallawn had flung upon him the Veil
of Illusion, so that no one could see him slay the men, but
the sword only could they see. And it liked him not to
slay Caradawc, because he was his nephew, the son of his
cousin. And now he was the third whose heart had broke
through grief. Pendaran Dyved, who had remained as a
young page with these men, escaped into the wood," said

they.

Then they went on to Harlech, and there stopped to
rest, and they provided meat and liquor, and sat down to
eat and to drink. And there came three birds, and began

242 The Boy's Mabinogion.

singing unto them a certain song, and all the songs they
had ever heard were unpleasant compared thereto ; and
the birds seemed to them to be at a great distance from
them over the sea, yet they appeared as distinct as if
they were close by, and at this repast they continued
seven years.

And at the close of the seventh year they went forth
\Q Gwales in Penvro. And there they found a fair and
regal spot overlooking the ocean ; and a spacious hall was
therein. And they went into the hall, and two of its
doors were open ; but the third door was closed, — that
which looked towards Cornwall. " See, yonder," said
Manawyddan, " is the door that we may not open."
And that night they regaled themselves and were joy
ful. And of all they had seen of food laid before them,
and of all they had heard of, they remembered nothing ;
neither of that, nor of any sorrow whatsoever. And
there they remained fourscore years, unconscious of
having ever spent a time more joyous and mirthful.
And they were not more weary than when first they
came, neither did they, any of them, know the time
they had been there. And it was not more irksome to
them having the head with them, than if Bendigeid Vran
had been with them himself. And because of these four-
score years, it was called the entertaining of the noble
head. The entertaining of Branwen and Matholwch was
in the time that they went to Ireland.

One day said Heilyn the son of Gwynn, " Evil betide

Branwen the Daughter of Llyr. 243

me if I do not open the door to know if that is true which
is said concerning it." So he opened the door, and looked
towards Cornwall and Aber Henvelen. And when they
had looked, they were as conscious of all the evils they
had ever sustained, and of all the friends and companions
they had lost, and of all the misery that had befallen them,
as if all had happened in that very spot ; and especially of
the fate of their lord. And because of their perturbation
they could not rest, but journeyed forth with the head
towards London. And they buried the head in the
White Mount, and when it was buried this was the
third goodly concealment ; and it was the third ill-fated
disclosure when it was disinterred, inasmuch as no in-
vasion from across the sea came to this island while the
head was in that concealment.

244 The Boy's Mabinogion.

MANAWYDDAN AND THE MICE.

[ENTITLED IN THE ORIGINAL "MANAWYDDAN THE SON

OF LLYR."]

\\ 7HEN the seven men of whom we spoke [in the
* * foregoing tale] had buried the head of Bendigeid
Vran, in the White Mount in London, with its face
towards France, Manawyddan gazed upon the town of
London, and upon his companions, and heaved a great
sigh; and much grief and heaviness came upon him.
"Alas, Almighty Heaven, woe is me!" he exclaimed,
" there is none save myself without a resting-place this
night."

"Lord," said Pryderi, "be not so sorrowful. Thy
cousin is king of the Island of the Mighty, and though
he should do thee wrong, thou hast never been a claimant
of land or possessions. Thou art the third disinherited
prince."

'Yea," answered he; "but although this man is my
cousin, it grieveth me to see any one in the place of my
brother Bendigeid Vran, neither can I be happy in the
same dwelling with him."

Manawyddan and the Mice. 245

"Wilt thou follow the counsel of another?" said
Pryderi.

" I stand in need of counsel," he answered ; " and what
may that counsel be ? "

"Seven cantrevs remain unto me," said Pryderi,
"wherein Rhiannon my mother dwells. I will bestow
her upon thee, and the seven Cantrevs with her, and thou
couldst not have seven Cantrevs fairer than they. Kicva,
the daughter of Gwynn Gloyw, is my wife ; and since the
inheritance of the Cantrevs belongs to me, do thou and
Rhiannon enjoy them."

They set forth, and, however long the journey, they
came at length to Dyved ; and a feast was prepared for
them against their coming to Narberth, which Rhiannon
and Kicva had provided. Then began Manawyddan and
Rhiannon to sit and to talk together, and from their dis-
course his mind and his thoughts became warmed towards
her, and he thought in his heart he had never beheld any
lady more fulfilled of grace and beauty than she. " Pry-
deri," said he, " I will that it be as thou didst say."

" What saying was that ? " asked Rhiannon.

"Lady," said Pryderi, "I did offer thee as a wife to
Manawyddan the son of Llyr."

"By that will I gladly abide," said Rhiannon.

"Right glad am I also," said Manawyddan. "May
Heaven reward him who hath shown unto me friendship
so perfect as this."

And before the feast was over she became his bride.

246 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Said Pryderi, " Tarry ye here the rest of the feast, and I
will go into Lloegyr to tender my homage unto Caswal-
lawn the son of Beli."

" Lord," said Rhiannon, " Caswallawn is in Kent : thou
mayest therefore tarry at the feast, and wait until he shall

be nearer."

"We will wait," he answered. So they finished the
feast. And they began to make the circuit of Dyved,
and to hunt, and to take their pleasure. And as they
went through the country, they had never seen lands more
pleasant to live in, nor better hunting-grounds, nor greater
plenty of honey and fish. And such was the friendship
between those four, that they would not be parted from
each other by night nor by day.

And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at
Oxford, and tendered his homage ; and honorable was his
reception there, and highly was he praised for offering his
homage.

And after his return, Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted,
and took their ease and pleasure. And they began a feast
at Narberth ; for it was the chief palace, and there origi-
nated all honor. And when they had ended the first
meal that night, while those who served them ate, they
arose and went forth, and proceeded all four to the Gor-
sedd of Narberth, and their retinue with them. And as
they sat thus, behold a peal of thunder, and with the
violence of the thunderstorm, lo there came a fall of
roist so thick that not one of them could see the other

Manawyddan and the Mice. 247

And after the mist it became light all around. And when
they looked towards the place where they were wont to
see cattle and herds and dwellings, they saw nothing
now, — neither house, nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor
man, nor dwelling, but the houses of the court empty
and desert and uninhabited, without either man or beast
within them. And truly all their companions were lost to
them, without their knowing aught of what had befallen
them, save those four only.

"In the name of Heaven," cried Manawyddan, "where
are they of the court, and all my host beside these ? Let
us go and see." So they came into the hall, and there
Avas no man ; and they went on to the castle, and to the
sleeping-place, and they saw none ; and in the mead-cellar
and in the kitchen there was nought but desolation. Then
they began to go through the land and all the possessions
that they had, and they visited the houses and dwellings,
and found nothing but wild beasts. And when they had
consumed their feast and all their provisions, they fed
upon the prey they killed in hunting, and the honey of
the wild swarms.

"Verily," said Manawyddan, "we must not bide thus.
Let us go into Lloegyr, and seek some craft whereby \ve
may gain our support." So they went into Lloegyr, and
came as far as Hereford. And they betook themselves
to making saddles. And Manawyidan began to make
housings ; and he gilded and colored them with blue
enamel in the manner that he had seen it done by

248 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Llasar Llaesgywydd. And he made the blue enamel as
it was made by the other man. And therefore is it still
called Calch Lasar [blue enamel], because Llasar Llaes-
gywydd had wrought it.

And as long as that workmanship could be had of Mana-
wyddan, neither saddle nor housing was bought of a
saddler throughout all Hereford; till at length every
one of the saddlers perceived that they were losing
much of their gain, and that no man bought of them
but him who could not get what he sought from Mana-
wyddan. Then they assembled together, and agreed to
slay him and his companions.

Now they received warning of this, and took counsel
whether they should leave the city. "By Heaven," said
Pryderi, "it is not my counsel that we should quit the
town, but that we should slay these boors."

"Not so," said Manawyddan ; "for, if we fight with
them, we shall have evil fame, and shall be put in prison.
It were better for us to go to another town to maintain
ourselves." So they four went to another city.

" What craft shall we take ? " said Pryderi.

" We will make shields," said Manawyddan.

" Do we know any thing about that craft ? said Pryderi.

'We will try," answered he. There they began to
make shields, and fashioned them after the shape of the
good shields they had seen ; and they enamelled them, as
they had done the saddles. And they prospered in that
place, so that not a shield was asked for in the whole

Manawyddan and the Mice. 249

town, but such as was had of them. Rapid therefore was
their work, and numberless were the shields they made.
But at last they were marked by the craftsmen, who came
together in haste, and their fellow-townsmen with them,
and agreed that they should seek to slay them. But they
received warning, and heard how the men had resolved on
thei: destruction. " Pryderi," said Manawyddan, "these
men desire to slay us. Let us not endure this from these
boors, but let us rather fall upon them and slay them."

" Not so," he answered. " Caswallawn and his men will
hear of it, and we shall be undone. Let us go to another
town." So to another town they went.

"What craft shall we take ? " said Manawyddan.
" Whatsoever thou wilt that we know," said Pryderi.
'Not so," he replied; "but let us take to making
shoes."

"I know nothing thereof," said Pryderi.
"But I know," answered Manawyddan; "and I will
teach thee to stitch. We will not attempt to dress the
leather ; but we will buy it ready dressed, and will make
the shoes from it."

So he began by buying the best cordwal that could be
had in the town, and none other would he buy except the
leather for the soles. And he associated himself with the
best goldsmith in the town, and caused him to make
clasps for the shoes, and to gild the clasps ; and he
marked how it was done, until he learned the method.
And therefore he was called one of the three makeis of

250 The Boy's Mabinogiou.

gold shoes ; and when they could be had from him, not
a shoe nor hose was bought of any of the cordwainers
in the town. But when the cordwainers perceived that
their gains were failing (for as Manawyddan shaped the
work, so Pryderi stitched it), they came together and
took counsel, and agreed that they would slay them.

" Pryderi," said Manawyddan, " these men are minded
to slay us."

"Wherefore should we bear this from the boorish
thieves ? " said Pryderi. " Rather let us slay them all."

" Not so," said Manawyddan : " we will not slay them,
neither will we remain in Lloegyr any longer. Let us
set forth to Dyved and go to see it."

So they journeyed along until they came to Dyved, and
they went forward to Narberth. And there they kindled
fire, and supported themselves by hunting. And thus
they spent a month. And they gathered their dogs
around them, and tarried there one year.

And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to
hunt ; and they ranged their dogs, and went forth from
the palace. And some of the dogs ran before them, and
came to a small bush which was near at hand ; but as
soon as they were come to the bush they hastily drew
back, and returned to the men, their hair bristling up
greatly. "Let us go near to the bush," said Pryderi,
"and see what is in it." And as they came near, behold,
a wild boar of a pure white color rose up from the bush.
Then the dogs, being set on by the men, rushed towards

Manawyddan and the Alice. 251

him ; but he left the bush, and fell back a little way from
the men, and made a stand against the dogs, without
retreating from them, until the men had come near.
And when the men came up, he fell back a second time,
and betook him to flight. Then they pursued the boar
until they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly built,
in a place where they had never before seen either stone
or building. And the boar ran swiftly into the castle,
and the dogs after him. Now, when the boar and the
dogs had gone into the castle, they began to wonder at
rinding a castle in a place where they had never before
then seen any building whatsoever. And from the top
of the Gorsedd they looked and listened for the dogs.
But so long as they were there they heard not one of the
dogs, nor aught concerning them.

" Lord," said Pryderi, " I will go into the castle to gel
tidings of the dogs."

"Truly," he replied, "thou wouldst be unwise to go
into this castle which thou hast never seen till now. If
thou wouldst follow my counsel, thou wouldst not enter
therein. Whosoever has cast a spell over this land has
caused this castle to be here."

" Of a truth," answered Pryderi, " I cannot thus give
up my dogs." And for all the counsel that Manawyddan
gave him, yet to the castle he went.

When he came within the castle, neither man nor
beast, nor boar nor dogs, nor house nor dwelling, saw he
within it. But in the centre of the castle-floor he beheld

252 The Boy's Mabinogion.

a fountain with marble work around it, and on the margin
of the fountain a golden bowl upon a marble slab, and
chains hanging from the air, to which he saw no end.

And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the
gold, and with the rich workmanship of the bowl, and he
went up to the bowl and laid hold of it. And when he
had taken hold of it, his hands stuck to the bowl, and his
feet to the slab on which the bowl was placed, and all
his joyousness forsook him, so that he could not utter a
word. And thus he stood.

And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of
the day. And late in the evening, being certain that he
should have no tidings of Pryderi or of the dogs, he went
back to the palace. And as he entered, Rhiannon looked
at him. " Where," said she, " are thy companion and thy
dogs ? "

"Behold," he answered, "the adventure that has be-
fallen me." And he related it all unto her.

"An evil companion hast thou been," said Rhiannon,
"and a good companion hast thou lost." And with that
word she went out, and proceeded towards the castle
according to the direction which he gave her. The gate
of the castle she found open. She was nothing daunted,
and she went in. And as she went in she perceived
Pryderi laying hold of the bowl, and she went towards
him. "O my lord," said she, "what dost thou do here ? "
And she took hold of the bowl with him ; and as she did
so, her hands became fast to the bowl, and her feet to the

Pryderi Held Fast by the KnchanU-'l Bow!

Manawyddan and the Mice. 253

slab, and she was not able to utter a word. And with
that, as it became night, lo, there came thunder upon
them, and a fall of mist, and thereupon the castle van
ished, and they with it.

When Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloew, saw that
there was no one in the palace but herself and Manawyd-
dan, she sorrowed so that she cared not whether she lived
or died. And Manawyddan saw this. " Thou art in the
wrong," said he, "if through fear of me thou grievest
thus. I call Heaven to witness that thou hast never
seen friendship more pure than that which I will bear
thee as long as Heaven will that thou shouldst be thus."

"Heaven reward thee," she said, "and that is what I
deemed of thee." And the damsel thereupon took
courage and was glad.

"Truly, lady," said Manawyddan, "it is not fitting for
us to stay here : we have lost our dogs, and we cannot get
food. Let us go into Lloegyr : it is easiest for us to find
support there."

"Gladly, lord," said she, "we will do so." And they
set forth together to Lloegyr. [But again the cordwainers
drove them from their craft. And Kicva would have
fought them ; but]

"Nay," said he, "we will go back unto Dyved.' So
towards Dyved they set forth.

Now Madawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved,
took with him a burden of wheat. And he proceeded
towards Narberth, and there he dwelt. And then he

254 The Boy's Mabinogion.

began to prepare some ground, and he sowed a croft, and
a second, and a third. And no wheat in the world ever
sprung up better. And the three crofts prospered with
perfect growth, and no man ever saw fairer wheat than it

And thus passed the seasons of the year until the
harvest came. And he went to look at one of his crofts,
and behold it was ripe. " I will reap this to-morrow," said
he. And that night he went back to Narberth. And on
the morrow in the gray dawn he went to reap the croft,
and when he came there he found nothing but the bare
straw. Every one of the ears of the wheat was cut from
off the stalk, and all the ears carried entirely away, and
nothing but the straw left. And at this he marvelled
greatly.

Then he went to look at another croft, and behold that
also was ripe. "Verily," said he, "this will I reap to-
morrow." And on the morrow he came with the intent
to reap it, and when he came there he found nothing but
the bare straw. " Oh, gracious Heaven," he exclaimed,
" I know that whosoever has begun my ruin is completing
it, and has also destroyed the country with me."

Then he went to look at the third croft, and when he
came there, finer wheat had there never been seen, and
this also was ripe. "Evil betide me," said he, "if I watch
not here to-night. Whoever carried off the other corn
will come in like manner to take this. And I will know
who it is." So he took his arms, and began to watch the
croft. And he told Kicva all that had befallen.

Manawyddan and the Mice. 255

"Verily," said she, "what thinkest them to do?"

" I will watch the croft to-night," said he.

And he went to watch the croft. And at midnight, lo,
there arose the loudest tumult in the world. And he
looked, and behold the mightiest host of mice in the
world, which could neither be numbered nor measured.
And he knew not what it was until the mice had made
their way into the croft, and each of them, climbing up
the straw and bending it down with its weight, had cut off
one of the ears of wheat, and had carried it away, leaving
there the stalk ; and he saw not a single straw there that
had not a mouse to it. And they all took their way,
carrying the ears with them.

In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice ; but he
could no more come up with them than if they had been
gnats, or birds in the air, except one only, which, though
it was but sluggish, went so fast that a man on foot could
scarce overtake it. And after this one he went, and he
caught it, and put it in his glove, and tied up the opening
of the glove with a string, and kept it with him, and
returned to the palace. Then he came to the hall where
Kicva was, and he lighted a fire, and hung the glove by
the string upon a peg.

•'What hast thou there, lord?" said Kicva.

"A thief," said he, "that I found robbing me."

"What kind of thief may it be, lord, that thou couldst
put into thy glove ? " said she.

" Behold, I will tell thee," he answered. Then he showed

256 The Boy's Mabinogion.

her how his fields had been wasted and destroyed, and
how the mice came to the last of the fields in his sight.
"And one of them was less nimble than the rest, and is
now in my glove : to-morrow I will hang it. And before
Heaven, if I had them, I would hang them all."

" My lord," said she, " this is marvellous. But yet it
would be unseemly for a man of dignity like thee to be
hanging such a reptile as this. And if thou doest right,
thou wilt not meddle with the creature, but wilt let it

go."

" Woe betide me," said he, " if I would not hang them
all, could I catch them ; and such as I have I will hang."

"Verily, lord," said she, "there is no reason that I
should succor this reptile, except to prevent discredit unto
thee. Do therefore, lord, as thou wilt."

" If I knew of any cause in the world wherefore thou
shouldst succor it, I would take thy counsel concerning
it," said Manawyddan ; " but as I know of none, lady, I
am minded to destroy it."

" Do so willingly, then," said she.

And then he went to the Gorsedd of Narberth, taking
the mouse with him. And he set up two forks on the
highest part of the Gorsedd. And while he was doing
this, behold he saw a scholar coming towards him in old
and poor and tattered garments. And it was now seven
years since he had seen in that place either man or beast,
except those four persons who had remained together until
two of them were lost.

Manawyddan and the Mice. 257

"My lord," said the scholar, "good day to thee."

" Heaven prosper thee, and my greeting be unto thee.
And whence dost thou come, scholar ? " asked he.

" I come, lord, from singing in Lloegyr ; and wherefore
dost thou inquire ? "

" Because, for the last seven years," answered he, " I
have seen no man here save four secluded persons, and
thyself this moment."

" Truly, lord," said he, " I go through this land unto
mine own. And what work art thou upon, lord ? "

" I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said
he.

" What manner of thief is that ? " asked the scholar.
" I see a creature in thy hand like unto a mouse ; and ill
does it become a man of rank equal to thine to touch a
reptile such as this. Let it go forth free."

" I will not let it go free, by Heaven," said he. " I
caught it robbing me, and the doom of a thief will I
inflict upon it, and I will hang it."

" Lord," said he, " rather than see a man of rank equal
to thine at such a work as this, I would give thee a pound,
which I have received as alms, to let the reptile go forth

free."

" I will not let it go free," said he, " by Heaven ; icither

will I sell it."

" As thou wilt, lord," he answered. " Except that I would
not see a man of rank equal to thine touching such a
reptile, I care nought." And the scholar went his way.

77/4.- Usr's Mabinogion.

And as he was placing the crossbeam upon the two
forks, behold a priest came towards him upon a horse
covered with trappings. " Good-day to thee, lord," said

he.

" Heaven prosper thee ! " said Manawvddan ; " thy bless-

ing."

" The blessing of Heaven be upon thee ! And what,
lord, art thou doing ? "

" I am hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said
he.

"What manner of thief, lord?" asked he.

" A creature," he answered, " in form of a mouse. It
has been robbing me, and I am inflicting upon it the doom
of a thief."

"Lord," said he, "rather than see thee touch this
reptile, I would purchase its freedom."

"By my confession to Heaven, neither will I sell it nor
set it free."

" It is true, lord, that it is worth nothing to buy. But
rather than see thee defile thyself by touching such a
reptile as this, I will give thee three pounds to let it go."

"I will not, by Heaven," said he, "take any price for
it. As it ought, so shall it be hanged."

"Willingly, lord, do thy good pleasure." And the
priest went his way.

Then he noosed the string around the mouse's neck,
and as he was about to draw it up, behold, he saw 3
bishop's retinue with his sumpter-horses, and his attend-

Manawyddau and tJie Mice. 259

ants. And the bishop himself came towards him. And
he stayed his work. " Lord bishop," said he, " thy bless-
ing."

"Heaven's blessing be unto thee," said he. "What
work art thou upon ? "

" Hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he.
" Is not that a mouse that I see in thy hand ? "
" Yes," answered he. "And she has robbed me."
" Ay," said he, " since I have come at the doom of
this reptile, I will ransom it of thee. I will give thee
seven pounds for it, and that rather than see a man of
rank equal to thine destroying so vile a reptile as this.
Let it loose, and tbou shalt have the money."
"I declare to Heaven that I will not set it loose."
" If thou wilt not loose it for this, I will give thee four
and twenty pounds of ready money to set it free."

" I will not set it free, l»y Heaven, for as much again,"

said he.

" If thou wilt not set it free for this, I will give thee all
the horses that thou seest in this plain, and the seven
loads of baggage, and the seven horses that they are

upon."

"By Heaven, I will not," he replied.

" Since for this thou wilt not, do so at what price soever

thou wilt."

« I will do so," said he. " I will that Rhiarmon and

Pryderi be free," said he.

" That thou shalt have," he answered.

26o The Boy's Mabinogion.

" Not yet will I loose the mouse, by Heaven."
" What then wouldst thou ? "

" That the charm and the illusion be removed from the
seven Cantrevs of Dyved."

"This shalt thou have also: set therefore the mouse

free."

" I will not set it free, by Heaven," said he. " I will
know who the mouse may be."

" She is my wife."

" Even though she be, I will not set her free. Where-
fore came she to me ? "

"To despoil thee," he answered. " I am Llwyd the son
of Kilcoed, and I cast the charm over the seven cantrevs
of Dyved. And it was to avenge Gwawl the son of Clud
from the friendship I had towards him, that I cast the
charm. And upon Pryderi did I revenge Gwawl the son
of Clud for the game of Badger in the Bag that Pwyll
Pen Annwn played upon him, which he did unadvisedly in
the court of Heveydd Hen. And when it was known
that thou wast come to dwell in the land, my household
came and besought me to transform them into mice, that
they might destroy thy corn. And it was my own house-
hold that went the first night. And the second night
also they went, and they destroyed thy two crofts. And
the third night came unto me my wife and the ladies of
the court, and besought me to transform them. And I
transformed them. But since [my wife] has been caught,
I will restore thee Pryderi and Rhiannon ; and I will take

Manawyddan and the Mice. 261

the charm and illusion from off Dyved. I have now told
thee who she is. Set her therefore free."

" I will not set her free, by Heaven," said he.

"What wilt thou more ? " he asked.

" I will that there be no more charm upon the seven
Cantrevs of Dyved, and that none shall be put upon it
henceforth."

"This thou shalt have," said he. "Now set her free."

" I will not, by my faith," he answered.

"What wilt thou furthermore ? " asked he.

"Behold," said he, "this will I have; that vengeance
be never taken for this, either upon Pryderi, or Rhiannon,
or upon me."

" All this shalt thou have. And truly thou hast done
wisely in asking this. Upon thy head would have lighted
all this trouble."

" Yea," said he, " for fear thereof was it that I required
this."

" Set now my wife at liberty."

" I will not, by Heaven," said he, " until I see Pryderi
and Rhiannon with me free."

" Behold, here they come," he answered.

And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon. And he
rose up to meet them, and greeted them, and sat down
beside them. " Ah, chieftain, set now my wife at liberty,"
said the bishop. " Hast thou not received all thou didst

ask ? "

" I will release her gladly," said he. And thereupon he

set her free.

262 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Then Llywyd struck her with a magic wand, and she was
changed back into a young woman, the fairest ever seen.

" Look around upon thy land," said he, " and then thou
wilt see it all tilled and peopled, as it was in its best
state."

And he rose up and looked forth. And when he looked
he saw all the lands tilled, and full of herds and dwellings.
"What bondage," he inquired, "has there been upon Pry-
deri and Rhiannon ? "

" Pryderi has had the knockers of the gate of my palace
about his neck, and Rhiannon has had the collars of the
asses, after they have been carrying hay, about her neck."

And such had been their bondage.

And by reason of this bondage is this story called the
Mabinogi of Mynnweir and Mynord.

Geraint tJie Son of Erbin. 263

GERAINT THE SON OF ERBIN.'

A RTHUR was accustomed to hold his court at Caer-
•^~* lleon-upon-Usk. And there he held it seven Easters
and five Christmases, And once upon a time he held
his court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerlleon was the
place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea
and by land. And there were assembled nine crowned
kings, who were his tributaries, and likewise earls and
barons. For they were his invited guests at all the high
festivals, unless they were prevented by any great hin-
drance. And when he was at Caerlleon, holding his court,
thirteen churches were set apart for mass. And thus
were they appointed : one church for Arthur and his
kings and his guests ; and the second for Gwenhwyvar
and her ladies ; and the third for the steward of the
household and the suitors ; and the fourth for the franks
and the others officers : and the other nine churches were
for the nine masters of the household, and chiefly for
Gwalchmai ; 2 for he, from the eminence of his warlike

1 It is from this tale that Tennyson drew the incidents of his poem upon Geraint
and Enid.

2 "Gwalchmai," as before stated, is the "Sir Gawaine" of Malory's King
Arthur.

264 The Boy's Mabinogion.

fame, and from the nobleness of his birth, was the most
exalted of the nine.

Glewlwyd Gavaelvawr was the chief porter ; but he did
not himself perform the office, except at one of the three
high festivals, for he had seven men to serve him, and
they divided the year amongst them. And on Whit-
Tuesday, as the king sat at the banquet, lo ! there entered
a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and a surcoat of
diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck,
and low shoes of leather upon his feet. And he came
and stood before Arthur. " Hail to thee, lord ! " said he.

"Heaven prosper thee," he answered, "and be thou
welcome. Dost thou bring any new tidings ? "

" I do, lord," he said.

" I know thee not," said Arthur.

" It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know me. I
am one of thy foresters, lord, in the Forest of Dean, and
my name is Madawc, the son of Twrgadarn."

"Tell me thine errand," said Arthur.

" I will do so, lord," said he : " in the forest I saw a
stag the like of which beheld I never yet."

"What is there about him," asked Arthur, "that thou
never yet didst see his like ? "

" He is of pure white, lord, and he does not herd with
any other animal through stateliness and pride, so royal
is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, lord,
and to know thy will concerning him."

"It seems best to me," said Arthur, "to go and hunt

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 265

him to-morrow at break of day, and to cause general
notice thereof to be given to-night in all quarters of the
court." And Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman,
and Arelivri was his chief page. And all received notice ;
and thus it was arranged. And they sent the youth
before them.

Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, "Wilt thou permit
me, lord," said she, " to go to-morrow to see and hear
the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke ? "

" I will gladly," said Arthur.

"Then will I go," said she.

And Gwalchmai said to Arthur, " Lord, if it seem well
to thee, permit that into whose hunt soever the stag shall
come, that one, be he a knight, or one on foot, may cut
off his head, and give it to whom he pleases, whether to
his own lady-love, or to the lady of his friend."

"I grant it gladly," said Arthur, "and let the steward
of the household be chastised, if all are not ready to-
morrow for the chase."

And they passed the night with songs and diversions
and discourse, and ample entertainment. And when it
was time for them all to go to sleep, they went. And
when the next day came, they arose ; and Arthur called
the attendants who guarded his couch. And these men
came to Arthur and saluted him, and arrayed him in his
garments. And Arthur wondered that Gwenhwyvar did
not awake, and did not move in her bed ; and the attend-
ants wished to awaken her. "Disturb her not," said

266 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Arthur, "for she had rather sleep than go to see the
hunting."

Then Arthur went forth ; and he heard two horns
sounding, one from near the lodging of the chief hunts
man, and the other from near that of the chief page
And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to
Arthur, and they took the road to the forest.

And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace,
Gwenhwyvar awoke, and called to her maidens, and
apparelled herself. " Maidens," said she, " I had leave
last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of you to the
stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may
ride." And one of them went, and she found but two
horses in the stable ; and Gwenhwyvar and one of her
maidens mounted them, and went through the Usk, and
followed the track of the men and the horses. And as
they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound ;
and they looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon
a hunter-foal of mighty size ; and the rider was a fair-
haired youth, bare-legged, and of princely mien, and a
golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a
surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes of
leather upon his feet, and around him was a scarf of blue
purple, at each corner of which was a golden apple.
And his horse stepped stately and swift and proud ;
and he overtook Gwenhwyvar, and saluted her. " Heaven
prosper thee, Geraint," said she : " I knew thee when
first I saw thee just now. And the welcome of Heaven

Geraint tJie Son of Erbin. 267

be unto thee. And why didst thou not go with thy lord
to hunt ? "

" Because I knew not when he went," said he.

"I marvel too," said she, "how he could go unknown
to me."

" Indeed, lady ! " said he.

" I was asleep, and knew not when he went. And it
may be that I shall be more amused with the hunting
than they ; for we shall hear the horns when they sound,
and we shall hear the dogs when they are let loose, and
begin to cry." So they went to the edge of the forest,
and there they stood. "From this place," said she, "we
shall hear when the dogs are let loose." And thereupon
they heard a loud noise, and they looked towards the spot
whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a
horse, stately, and foaming and prancing, and strong and
spirited. And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip.
And near the dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful
white horse of steady and stately pace ; and she was
clothed in a garment of gold brocade. And near her was
a knight upon a war-horse of large size, with heavy and
bright armor both upon himself and upon his horse.
And truly they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or
armor, of such remarkable size. And they were all near
to each other.

"Geraint," said Gwenhwyvar, "knowest thou the name
of that tall knight yonder ? "

"I know him not," said he; "and the strange armor

268 The Boy's Mabinogion.

that he wears prevents my either seeing his face or his
features."

" Go, maiden," said Gwenhwyvar, " and ask the dwarf
who that knight is." Then the maiden went up to the
dwarf; and the dwarf waited for the maiden when he
saw her coming towards him. And the maiden inquired
of the dwarf who the knight was.

" I will not tell thee," he answered.

"Since thou art so churlish as not to tell me," said she,
" I will ask him himself."

"Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith ! " said he.

" Wherefore ? " said she.

"Because thou art not of honor sufficient to befit thee
to speak to my lord." Then the maiden turned her
horse's head towards the knight, upon which the dwarf
struck her, with the whip that was in his hand, across the
face and the eyes, until the blood flowed forth. And the
maiden, through the hurt she received from the blow,
returned to Gwenhwyvar, complaining of the pain.

'Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee," said Geraint.
"I will go myself to know who the knight is."

"Go," said Gwenhwyvar. And Geraint went up to
the dwarf.

" Who is yonder knight ? " said Geraint.
" I will not tell thee," said the dwarf.

( Then will I ask him himself," said he.

'That wilt thou not, by my faith!" said the dwari
'Thou art not honorable enough to speak with my lord."

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 26$

Said Geraint, " I have spoken with men of equal rank
with him." And he turned his horse's head towards the
knight ; but the dwarf overtook him, and struck him as
he had done the maiden, so that the blood colored the
scarf that Geraint wore. Then Geraint put his hand
upon the hilt of his sword ; but he took counsel with
himself, and considered that it would be no vengeance
for him to slay the dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by
the armed knight : so he returned to where Gwenhwy-
var was.

"Thou hast acted wisely and discreetly," said she.

" Lady," said he, " I will follow him yet, with thy
permission ; and at last he will come to some inhabited
place, where I may have arms either as a loan or for a
pledge, so that I may encounter the knight."

"Go," said she, "and do not attack him until thou
hast good arms ; and I shall be very anxious concerning
thee until I hear tidings of thee."

"If I am alive," said he, "thou shalt hear tidings of
me by to-morrow afternoon." And with that he departed.

And the road they took was below the palace of Caer-
.leon, and across the ford of the Usk. And they went
along a fair and even and lofty ridge of ground until
they came to a town, and at the extremity of the town
they saw a fortress and a castle. And they came to the
extremity of the town. And as the knight passed
through it, all the people arose and saluted him, and
bade him welcome. And when Geraint came into the

270 The Boy's Mabinogion.

town, he looked at every house to see if he knew any
of those whom he saw. But he knew none, and none
knew him to do him the kindness to let him have arms
either as a loan or for a pledge. And every house he
saw was full of men and arms and horses. And they
were polishing shields, and burnishing swords, and wash-
ing armor, and shoeing horses. And the knight and the
lady and the dwarf rode up to the castle that was in the
town, and every one was glad in the castle. And from
the battlements and the gates they risked their necks
through their eagerness to greet them, and to show their
joy.

Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would
remain in the castle. And when he was certain that he
would do so, he looked around him ; and at a little dis-
tance from the town he saw an old palace in ruins,
wherein was a hall that was falling to decay. And as he
knew not any one in the town, he went towards the old
palace ; and when he came near to the palace he saw but
one chamber, and a bridge of marble-stone leading to it.
And upon the bridge he saw sitting a hoary-headed man,
upon whom were tattered garments. And Geraint gazed
steadfastly upon him for a long time. Then the hoary-
headed man spoke to him. "Young man," he said,
"wherefore art thou thoughtful?"

"I am thoughtful," said he, "because I know not
where to go to-night."

"Wilt thou come forward this way, chieftain?" said

Geraint tJie Son of Erbin. 271

he, "and thou shalt have the best that can be procured
for thee." So Geraint went forward. And the hoary-
headed man preceded him into the hall. And in the
hall he dismounted, and he left there his horse. Then
he went on to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed
man. And in the chamber he beheld an old decrepit
woman sitting on a cushion, with old, tattered garments
of satin upon her; and it seemed to him that he had
never seen a woman fairer than she must have been
when in the fulness of youth. And beside her was a
maiden, upon whom were a vest and a veil that were
old, and beginning to be worn out. And truly he never
saw a maiden more full of comeliness and grace and
beauty than she. And the hoary-headed man said to
the maiden, " There is no attendant for the horse of this
youth but thyself."

" I will render the best service I am able," said she,
"both to him and to his horse." And the maiden dis-
arrayed the youth, and then she furnished his horse with
straw and with corn. And she went to the hall as before,
and then she returned to the chamber.

And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, " Go
to the town," said he, "and bring hither the best that
thou canst find both of food and of liquor."

" I will gladly, lord," said she. And to the town went
the maiden. And they conversed together while the
maiden was at the town. And behold ! the maiden came
back, and a youth with her, bearing on his back a cos-

272 The Boy's Mabinogion.

trel full of good purchased mead, and a quarter of a
young bullock. And in the hands of the maiden was
a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet
bread in her veil, and she came into the chamber.

"I could not obtain better than this," said she, "nor
with better should I have been trusted."

" It is good enough," said Geraint. And they caused
the meat to be boiled; and when their food was ready,
they sat down. And it was on this wise : Geraint sat
between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and the
maiden served them. And they ate and drank.

And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked
with the hoary-headed man ; and he asked him, in the first
place, to whom belonged the palace that he was in.

"Truly," said he, "it was I that built it, and to me
also belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest."

"Alas!" said Geraint, "how is it that thou hast lost
them now ? "

" I lost a great earldom as well as these," said he.
" And this is how I lost them. I had a nephew, the son
of my brother, and I took his possessions to myself ; and
when he came to his strength, he demanded of me his
property ; but I withheld it from him. So he made war
upon me, and wrested from me all that I possessed."

"Good sir," said Geraint, "wilt thou tell me wherefore
came the knight and the lady and the dwarf just now
into the town, and what is the preparation which I saw
and the putting of arms in order ? "

Geraint the Son of Erbin.

"I will do so," said he. "The preparations are for the
game that is to be held to-morrow by the young can,
which will be on this wise. In the midst of a meadow
which is here, two forks will be set up, and upon the two
forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a sparrow-
hawk ; and for the sparrow-hawk there will be a tourna-
ment. And to the tournament will go all the array thou
didst see in the city, of men and of horses and of arms.
And with each man will go the lady he loves best ; and
no man can joust for the sparrow-hawk, except the lady
he loves best be with him. And the knight that thou
sawest has gained the sparrow-hawk these two years ;
and if he gains it the third year, they will from that time
send it every year to him, and he himself will come here
no more. And he will be called the Knight of the
Sparrow-hawk from that time forth."

"Sir," said Geraint, "what is thy counsel to me con-
cerning this knight, on account of the insult which I
received from the dwarf, and that which was received by
the maiden of Gwenhywvar, the wife of Arthur ? ' And
Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult was
that he had received.

" It is not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast
neither dame nor maiden belonging to thee for whom
thou canst joust. Yet I have arms here which thou
couldest have, and there is my horse also, if he seem to
thee better than thine own."

"Ah, sir," said he, "Heaven reward thee! But my

274 The Boy's Mabinogion.

•)wn horse, to which I am accustomed, together with thy
arms, will suffice. And if, when the appointed time shall
come to-morrow, thou wilt permit me, sir, to challenge
for yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if
I escape from the tournament, to love the maiden as long
as I live; and, if I do not escape, she will remain as
before."

"Gladly will I permit thee," said the hoary-headed
man. " And since thou dost thus resolve, it is necessary
that thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at
break of day. For then the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk
will make proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best
to take the sparrow-hawk. ' For,' will he say to her,
' thou art the fairest of women, and thou didst possess it
last year and the year previous ; and if any deny it thee
to-day, by force will I defend it for thee.' And there-
fore," said the hoary-headed man, " it is needful for thee
to be there at daybreak ; and we three will be with thee."
And thus was it settled.

And at night, lo ! they went to sleep. And before the
dawn they arose, and arrayed themselves ; and by the
time that it was day, they were all four in the meadow.
And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk making
the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to fetch the
sparrow-hawk.

'Fetch it not," said Geraint, "for there is here a
maiden who is fairer, and more noble, and more comely,
and who has a better claim to it, than thou."

Gcraint the Son of Erbin. 275

"If thou maintainest the sparrow-hawk to be due to
her, come forward and do battle with me." And Geraint
went forward to the top of the meadow, having upon
himself and upon his horse armor which was heavy and
rusty and worthless, and of uncouth shape. Then they
encountered each other, and they broke a set of lances,
and they broke a second set, and a third. And thus they
did at every onset, and they broke as many lances as
were brought to them. And when the earl and his com-
pany saw the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk gaining the
mastery, there was shouting and joy and mirth amongst
them. And the hoary-headed man and his wife and his
daughter were sorrowful. And the hoary-headed man
served Geraint lances as often as he broke them ; and the
dwarf served the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk. Then
the hoary-headed man came to Geraint. " O chieftain ! "
said he, " since no other will hold with thee, behold, here
is the lance which was in my hand on the day when I
received the honor of knighthood ; and from that time to
this I never broke it. And it has an excellent point."
Then Geraint took the lance, thanking the hoary-headed
man. And thereupon the dwarf also brought a lance to
his lord.

"Behold, here is a lance for thee, not less good than
his," said the dwarf. " And bethink thee that no knight
ever withstood thee before so long as this one has done."

"I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, "that, unless
death takes me quickly hence, he shall fare never the

276 The Boy's Mabinogion.

better for thy service." And Geraint pricked his horse
towards him from afar, and warning him, he rushed upon
him, and gave him a blow so severe and furious and fierce,
upon the face of his shield, that he cleft it in two, and
broke his armor, and burst his girths, so that both he
and his saddle were borne to the ground over the horse's
crupper. And Geraint dismounted quickly. And he
was wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely
upon him. Then the knight also arose, and drew his
sword against Geraint. And they fought on foot with
their swords until their arms struck sparks of fire like
stars from one another ; and thus they continued fighting
until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their
eyes. And when Geraint prevailed, the hoary-headed
man and his wife and his daughter were glad ; and when
the knight prevailed, it rejoiced the earl and his party.

Then the hoary-headed man saw Geraint receive a
severe stroke, and he went up to him quickly, and said
to him, " O chieftain, remember the treatment which thou
hadst from the dwarf ; and wilt thou not seek vengeance
for the insult to thyself, and for the insult to Gwenhwy-
var the wife of Arthur ? "

And Geraint was roused by what he said to him, and
he called to him all his strength, and lifted up his sword,
and struck the knight upon the crown of his head, so
that he broke all his head-armor, and cut through all the
flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he wounded
the bone.

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 277

Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword
from his hand, and besought mercy of Geraint. "Of a
truth," said he, " I relinquish my overdaring and my
pride in craving thy mercy ; and unless I have time to
commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to talk with a
priest, thy mercy will avail me little."

"I will grant thee grace upon this condition," said
Geraint, " that thou wilt go to Gwenhwyvar the wife of
Arthur, to do her satisfaction for the insult which her
maiden received from thy dwarf. As to myself, for the
insult which I received from thee and thy dwarf, I am
content with that which I have done unto thee. Dis-
mount not from the time thou goest hence until thou
comest into the presence of Gwenhwyvar, to make her
what atonement shall be adjudged at the court of Arthur."

" This will I do gladly. And who art thou ? " said he.

" I am Geraint the son of Erbin. And declare thou
also who thou art."

" I am Edeyrn the son of Nudd." Then he threw him-
self upon his horse, and went forward to Arthur's court,
and the lady he loved best went before him and the
dwarf with much lamentation. And thus far this story
up to that time.

Then came the little earl and his hosts to Geraint, and
saluted him, and bade him to his castle.

"I may not go," said Geraint; "but where I was last
night, there will I be to-night also."

278 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" Since thou wilt none of my inviting, thou shalt have
abundance of all that I can command for thee in the
place thou wast last night. And I will order ointment
for thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues and from the
weariness that is upon thee."

"Heaven reward thee!" said Geraint, "and I will go
to my lodging." And thus went Geraint, and Earl
Ynywl, and his wife, and his daughter. And when they
reached the chamber, the household servants and attend-
ants of the young earl had arrived at the court, and they
arranged all the houses, dressing them with straw and
with fire. And in a short time the ointment was ready,
and Geraint came there, and they washed his head.
Then came the young earl, with forty honorable knights
from among his attendants, and those who were bidden
to the tournament. And Geraint came from the anoint-
ing. And the earl asked him to go to the hall to eat.

"Where is the Earl Ynywl," said Geraint, "and his
wife, and his daughter ? "

"They are in the chamber yonder," said the earl's
chamberlain, "array'ng themselves in garments which
the earl has caused to be brought for them."

"Let not the damsel array herself," said he, "except
in her vest and her veil, until she come to the court of
Arthur to be clad by Gwenhwyvar in such garments as
she may choose." So the maiden did not array herself.

Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and
went and sat down to meat. And thus they were seated :

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 279

on one side of Geraint sat the young earl, and Earl
Ynywl beyond him; and on the other side of Geraint
were the maiden and her mother. And after these, all
sat according to their precedence in honor. And they
ate. And they were served abundantly, and they re-
ceived a profusion of divers kind of gifts. Then they
conversed together. And the young earl invited Geraint
to visit him next day.

" I will not, by Heaven ! " said Geraint. " To the court
of Arthur will I go with this maiden to-morrow. And
it is enough for me, as long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty
and trouble ; and I go chiefly to seek to add to his main-
tenance."

" Ah, chieftain ! " said the young earl, " it is not by my
fault that Earl Ynywl is without his possessions."

"By my faith," said Geraint, "he shall not remain
without them, unless death quickly takes me hence."

"Oh, chieftain!" said he, "with regard to the disagree-
ment between me and Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy
counsel, and agree to what thou mayest judge right
between us."

"I but ask thee," said Geraint, "to restore to him what
is his, and what he should have received from the time
he lost his possessions, even until this day."

"That I will do gladly for thee," answered he.

"Then," said Geraint, "whosoever is here who owes
homage to Ynywl, let him come forward, and perform it
on the spot." And all the men did so. And by thai

280 The Boys Mabinogion.

treaty they abided. And his castle, and his town, and
all his possessions, were restored to Ynywl. And he
received back all that he had lost, even to the smallest

jewel.

Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint. " Chieftain," said
he, " behold the maiden for whom thou didst challenge
at the tournament : I bestow her upon thee."

"She shall go with me," said Geraint, "to the court
of Arthur ; and Arthur and Gwenhwyvar they shall dis-
pose of her as they will." And the next day they pro-
ceeded to Arthur's court. So far concerning Geraint.

Now, this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men
and the dogs were divided into hunting-parties, and the
dogs were let loose upon the stag. And the last dog
that was let loose was the favorite dog of Arthur.
Cavall ' was his name. And he left all the other dogs
behind him, and turned the stag. And at the second
turn, the stag came towards the hunting-party of Arthur.
And Arthur set upon him. And before he could be slain
by any other, Arthur cut off his head. Then they sounded
the death-horn for slaying, and they all gathered round.

Then came Kadyriaith to Arthur, and spoke to him.
"Lord," said he, "behold, yonder is Gwenhwyvar, and
none with her save only one maiden."

" Command Gildas the son of Caw, and all the scholars

1 We have already become acquainted with Cavall at the hunting of the great boar
in " Kilhwch and Olwen."

-

282 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" But I know," said Gwenhwyvar. " This is the knight
whom Geraint pursued : and methinks that he comes not
here by his own free will ; but Geraint has overtaken
him, and avenged the insult to the maiden to the utter-
most."

And thereupon behold a porter came to the spot
where Gwenhwyvar was. "Lady," said he, "at the gate
there is a knight, and I saw never a man of so piti-
ful an aspect to look upon as he. Miserable and broken
is the armor that he wears ; and the hue of blood is more
conspicuous upon it than its own color."

" Knowest thou his name ? " said she.

" I do," said he. " He tells me that he is Edeyrn the
son of Nudd."

Then she replied, " I know him not."

So Gwenhwyvar went to the gate to meet him, and
he entered. And Gwenhwyvar was sorry when she saw
the condition he was in, even though he was accompa-
nied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted Gwen-
hwyvar. " Heaven protect thee ! " said she.

" Lady," said he, " Geraint the son of Erbin, thy best
and most valiant servant, greets thee."

" Did he meet thee ? " she asked,

"Yes," said he, "and it was not to my advantage; and
that was not his fault, but mine, lady. And Geraint
greets thee well ; and in greeting thee he compelled me
to come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult which thy
maiden received from the dwarf. He forgives the insult

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 283

*- . _--.--•- T- J

to himself in consideration of his having put me in peril
of my life. And he imposed on me a condition manly
and honorable and warrior-like, which was to do thee
justice, lady."

" Now, where did he overtake thee ? "

"At the place where we were jousting, and contending
for the sparrow-hawk, in the town which is now called
Cardiff. And there were none with him save three per-
sons of a mean and tattered condition. And these were
an aged, hoary-headed man, and a woman advanced in
years, and a fair young maiden clad in worn-out gar-
ments. And it was for the avouchment of the love of
that maiden that Geraint jousted for the sparrow-hawk
at the tournament ; for he said that that maiden was
better entitled to the sparrow-hawk than this maiden who
was with me. And thereupon we encountered each
other, and he left me, lady, as thou seest."

"Sir," said she, "when thinkest thou that Geraint will

be here ? "

"To-morrow, lady, I think he will be here with the

maiden."

Then Arthur came to him ; and he saluted Arthur.
And Arthur gazed a long time upon him, and was amazed
to see him thus. And, thinking that he knew him, he
inquired of him, " Art thou Edeyrn the son of tf udd ?

"I am, lord," said he, "and I have met with much
trouble, and received wounds insupportable."
told Arthur all his adventure.

284 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" Well," said Arthur, " from what I hear, it behooves
Gwenhwyvar to be merciful towards thee."

"The mercy which thou desirest, lord," said she, "will
I grant to him, since it is as insulting to thee that ?,n
insult should be offered to me as to thyself."

"Thus will it be best to do," said Arthur. "Let this
man have medical care until it be known whether he may
live. And, if he live, he shall do such satisfaction as shall
be judged best by the men of the court ; and take thou
sureties to that effect."

"This pleases me," said Gwenhwyvar. And Arthur
became surety for Edeyrn, and Caradawc the son of Llyr,
Gwallawg the son of Llenawg, and Owain the son of
Nudd, and Gwalchmai, and many others with them. And
Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him. He was
the chief physician.

" Take with thee Edeyrn the son of Nudd, and cause a
chamber to be prepared for him, and let him have the aid
of medicine as thou wouldest do unto myself, if I were
wounded, and let none into his chamber to molest him,
bat thyself and thy disciples to administer to him
remedies."

" I will do so gladly, lord," said Morgan Tud.

Then said the steward of the household, " Whither is it
right, lord, to order the maiden ? "

'To Gwenhwyvar and her handmaidens," said he.
And the steward of the household so ordered her. Thus
far concerning them.

Ger aint the Son of Erbin. 285

The next day came Geraint towards the court ; and
there was a watch set on the ramparts by Gwenhwyvar,
lest he should arrive unawares. And one of the watch
came to the place where Gwenhwyvar was. " Lady," said
he, " methinks that I see Geraint, and the maiden with
him. He is on horseback; but he has his walking-gear
upon him, and the maiden appears to be in white, seem-
ing to be clad in a garment of linen."

"Assemble all the women," said Gwenhwyvar, "and
come to meet Geraint, to welcome him, and wish him
joy." And Gwenhwyvar went to meet Geraint and the
maiden. And when Geraint came to the place where
Gwenhwyvar was, he saluted her. " Heaven prosper
thee," said she, " and welcome to thee. And thy career
has been successful, and fortunate, and resistless, and
glorious. And Heaven reward thee, that thou hast so
proudly caused me to have retribution."

" Lady," said he, " I earnestly desired to obtain thee
satisfaction according to thy will ; and behold, here is the
maiden through whom thou hadst thy revenge."

"Verily," said Gwenhwyvar, "the welcome of Heaven
be unto her ! and it is fitting that we should receive her
joyfully." Then they went in, and dismounted. And
Geraint came to where Arthur was, and saluted him.

"Heaven protect thee," said Arthur, "and the welcome
of Heaven be unto thee ! And since Edeyrn the son of
Nudd has received his overthrow and wounds from thy
hands, thou hast had a prosperous career."

286 The Boy's Mabinogion.

"Not upon me be the blame ! " said Geraint. " It was
through the arrogance of Edeyrn the son of Nudd himself
that we were not friends. I would not quit him until I
knew who he was, and until the one had vanquished the
other."

"Now," said Arthur, "where is the maiden for whom I
heard thou didst give challenge ? "

"She is gone with Gwenhwyvar to her chamber."

Then went Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur,
and all his companions, and his whole court, were glad
concerning the maiden. And certain were they all, that,
had her array been suitable to her beauty, they had nevei
seen a maid fairer than she. And Arthur gave away the
maiden to Geraint. And the usual bond made between
two persons was made between Geraint and the maiden ;
and the choicest of all Gwenhwyvar's apparel was given
to the maiden ; and thus arrayed, she appeared comely
and graceful to all who beheld her.

And from that time she became his bride. And the
next day Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint
with bountiful gifts. And the maiden took up her abode
in the palace ; and she had many companions, both men
and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed
than she in the Island of Britain.

Then spake Gwenhwyvar. "Rightly did I judge,"
said she, " concerning the head of the stag, that it should
not be given to any until Geraint's return ; and behold,
here is a fit occasion for bestowing it. Let it be given to

Geraiut the Son of Erbin. 287

Enid the daughter of Ynywl, the most illustrious maiden.
And I do not believe that any will begrudge it her ; for
between her and every one here there exists nothing but
love and friendship." Much applauded was this by them
all, and by Arthur also. And the head of the stag was
given to Enid ; and thereupon her fame increased, and
her friends thenceforward became more in number than
before. And Geraint from that time forth loved the stag,
and the tournament, and hard encounters ; and he came
victorious from them all. And a year, and a second, and
a third, he proceeded thus, until his fame had flown over
tne face of the kingdom.

And once upon a time Arthur was holding his court at
Caerlleon-upon-Usk, at Whitsuntide. And behold, there
came to him ambassadors, wise and prudent, full of knowl-
edge, and eloquent of speech, and they saluted Arthur.
" Heaven prosper you," said Arthur, " and the welcome
of Heaven be unto you ! And whence do you come ? '

" We come, lord," said they, "from Cornwall; and we
are ambassadors from Erbin the son of Custennin, thy
uncle, and our mission is unto thee. And he greets thee
well, as an uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal
should greet his lord. And he represents unto thee that
he waxes heavy and feeble, and is advancing in years.
And the neighboring chiefs, knowing this, grow insolent
towards him, and covet his land and possessions. And
he earnestly beseeches thee, lord, to permit Geraint his

2gg The Boy's Mabinogion.

son to return to him to protect his possessions, and to
become acquainted with his boundaries. And unto him
he represents that it were better for him to spend the
flower of his youth and the prime of his age in preserv-
ing his own boundaries than in tournaments, which are
productive of no profit, although he obtains glory in
them."

" Well," said Arthur, " go and divest yourselves of your
accoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after
your fatigues ; and before you go forth hence, you shall
have an answer."

And they went to eat. And Arthur considered that it
would go hard with him to let Geraint depart from him
and from his court ; neither did he think it fair that his
cousin should be restrained from going to protect his
dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father was
unable to do so. No less was the grief and regret of
Gwenhwyvar, and all her women, and all her damsels,
through fear that the maiden would leave them. And
that day and that night were spent in abundance of feast-
ing. And Arthur showed Geraint the cause of the mis-
sion, and of the coming of the ambassadors to him out of
Cornwall.

"Truly," said Geraint, "be it to my advantage or dis-
advantage, lord, I will do according to thy will concerning
this embassy."

" Behold," said Arthur, " though it grieves me to part
with thee, it is my counsel that thou go to dwell in thine

Geraint the Son of Erbui. 289

own dominions, and to defend thy boundaries, and to take
with thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt of
those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among
thy friends, and among thy companions in arms."

" Heaven reward thee ! And this will I do," said
Geraint.

"What discourse," said Gwenhwyvar, "do I hear
between you ? Is it of those who are to conduct Geraint
to his country ? "

" It is," said Arthur.

" Then it is needful for me to consider," said she, " con-
cerning companions and a provision for the lady that is
with me ? "

" Thou wilt do well," said Arthur.

And that night they went to sleep. And the next day
the ambassadors were permitted to depart, and they were
told that Geraint should follow them. And on the third
day Geraint set forth, and many went with him. Gwalch-
mai the son of Gwyar, and Riogonedd the son of the
King of Ireland, and Ondyaw the son of the Duke of
Burgundy, Gwilim the son of the ruler of the Franks,
Howel the son of Emyr of Brittany, Elivry, and Maw-
kyrd, Gwynn the son of Tringad, Goreu the son of
Custennin, Gweir Gwrhyd Vavvr, Garannaw the son of
Golithmer, Peredur the son of Evrawc, Gwynnllogel
Gwyr a judge in the court of Arthur, Dyvyr the son ..f
Alun of Dyved, Gwrei Gwalstawd leithoedd, Bcdwyr the
son of Bedrawd, Hadwry the son of Gwryon, Kai the son

20Q The Boy's Mabinogion.

of Kynyr, Odyar the Frank, the steward of Arthur's
court, and Edeyrn the son of Nudd.

Said Geraint, "I think that I shall have enough of
knighthood with me."

" Yes," said Arthur ; " but it will not be fitting for thee
to take Edeyrn with thee, although he is well, until peace
shall be made between him and Gwenhwyvar."

" Gwenhwyvar can permit him to go with me, if he
give sureties."

" If she please, she can let him go without sureties ; for
enough of pain and affliction has he suffered for the
insult which the maiden received from the dwarf."

"Truly," said Gwenhwyvar, " since it seems well to thee
and to Geraint, I will do this gladly, lord." Then she
permitted Edeyrn freely to depart. And many there were
who accompanied Geraint, and they set forth ; and never
was there seen a fairer host journeying towards the Sev-
ern. And on the other side of the Severn were the nobles
of Erbin the son of Custennin, and his foster-father at
their head, to welcome Geraint with gladness ; and many
of the women of the court, with his mother, came to re-
ceive Enid the daughter of Ynywl, his wife. And there
was great rejoicing and gladness throughout the whole
court, and throughout all the country, concerning Ge-
raint, because of the greatness of their love towards him,
and of the greatness of the fame wh ch he had gained
since he went from amongst them, and because he was
come to take possession of his dominions, and to preserve

Geraint the SOL- of Erbin. 291

his boundaries. And they came to the court. And in
the court they had ample entertainment, and a multitude
of gifts, and abundance of liquor, and a sufficiency of ser-
vice, and a variety of minstrelsy and of games. And to
do honor to Geraint, all the chief men of the country were
invited that night to visit him. And they passed that day
and that night in the utmost enjoyment.

And at dawn next day Erbin arose, and summoned to
him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne him
company. And he said to Geraint, "I am a feeble and
ased man, and, whilst I was able to maintain the dominion

^5 ' *

for thee and for myself, I did so. But thou art young,
and in the flower of thy vigor and of thy youth : hence-
forth do thou preserve thy possessions."

" Truly," said Geraint, "with my consent thou shalt not
give the power over thy dominions at this time into my
hands, and thou shalt not take me from Arthur's court.'

" Into thy hands will I give them," said Erbin ; " and
this day also shalt thou receive the homage of thy sub-
jects."

Then said Gwalchmai, " It were better for thee to satisfy
those who have boons to ask to-day, and to-morrow
canst receive the homage of thy dominions."
had boons to ask were summoned into one place.
Kadyrieith came to them to know what were their rcque:
And every one asked that which he desired.
lowers of Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately the
men of Cornwall came and gave also. And they were nol

292 The Boy's Mabinogion.

long in giving, so eager was every one to bestow gifts.
And of those who came to ask gifts none departed unsat-
isfied. And that day and that night were spent in the
utmost enjoyment.

And the next day, at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to
send messengers to the men to ask them whether it was
displeasing to them that he should come to receive their
homage, and whether they had any thing to object to him.
Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall
to ask them this. And they all said that it would be the
fulness of joy and honor to them for Geraint to come and
receive their homage. So he received the homage of such
as were there. And they remained with him till the third
night. And the day after, the followers of Arthur intended
to go away.

' It is too soon for you to go away yet," said he ; " stay
with me until I have finished receiving the homage of my
chief men, who have agreed to come to me." And they
remained with him until he had done so. Then they set
forth towards the court of Arthur ; and Geraint went to
bear them company, and Enid also, as far as Diganhwy :
there they parted.

Then Ondyaw the son of the Duke of Burgundy said to
Geraint, " Go first of all, and visit the uttermost parts of
thy dominions, and see well to the boundaries of thy terri-
tories ; and, if thou hast any trouble respecting them, send
unto thy companions."

" Heaven reward thee ! " said Geraint. " And this will I

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 293

do." And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost part of his
dominions. And experienced guides, and the chief men
of his country, went with him. And the furthermost point
that they showed him he kept possession of.

And, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur's
court, he frequented tournaments. And he became ac-
quainted with valiant and mighty men, until he had gained
as much fame there as he had formerly done elsewhere.
And he enriched his court, and his companions, and his
nobles, with the best horses and the best arms, and with
the best and most valuable jewels ; and he ceased not until
his fame had flown over the face of the whole kingdom.
And when he knew that it was thus, he began to love ease
and pleasure, for there was no one who was worth his
opposing. And he loved his wife, and liked to continue
in the palace, with minstrelsy and diversions. And for a
long time he abode at home. And he took no delight in
any thing besides, insomuch that he gave up the friendship
of his nobles, together with his hunting and his amuse-
ments, and lost the hearts of all the host in his court.
And there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him
among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his re-
linquishing so completely their companionship for the love
of his wife. And these tidings came to Erbin. And when
Erbin had heard these things, he spoke unto Enid, and
inquired of her whether it was she that had caused Geraint
to act thus, and to forsake his people and his hosts.

" Not I, by my confession unto Heaven ! " said she.

294 The Boy's Mabinogion.

"There is nothing more hateful to me than this." And she
knew not what she should do, for, although it was hard
for her to own this to Geraint, yet was it not more easy
for her to listen to what she heard, without warning Ge-
raint concerning it. And she was very sorrowful.

And one morning in the summer time, Enid was without
sleep in the apartment which had windows of glass. And
the sun shone upon the couch. And the clothes had slipped
from off his arms and his breast, and he was asleep. Then
she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his appearance,
and she said, "Alas ! and am I the cause that these arms
and this breast have lost their glory and the warlike fame
which they once so richly enjoyed?" And as she said
this, the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon
his breast. And the tears she shed, and the words she
had spoken, awoke him. And another thing contributed to
awaken him, and that was the idea that it was not in think-
ing of him that she spoke thus, but that it was because
she loved some other man more than him.

And thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and
he called his squire. And when he came to him, " Go
quickly," said he "and prepare my horse and my arms,
and make them ready. --And do thou arise," said he to
Enid, " and apparel thyself ; and cause thy horse to be
accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that
thou hast in thy possession. And evil betide me," said
he, " if thou returnest here until thou knowest whether I
have lost my strength so completely as thou didst say

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 295

And if it be so, it will then be easy for thee to seek the
society thou didst wish for of him of whom thou wast
thinking."

So she arose, and clothed herself in her meanest gar-
ments. "I know nothing, lord," said she, "of thy
meaning."

" Neither wilt thou know at this time," said he.

Then Geraint went to see Erbin. " Sir," said he, " I
am going upon a quest, and I am not certain when I may
come back. Take heed, therefore, unto thy possessions,
until my return."

" I will do so," said he ; " but it is strange to me that
thou shouldest go so suddenly. And who will proceed
with thee, since thou art not strong enough to traverse
the land of Lloegyr alone ? "

" But one person only will go with me."

" Heaven counsel thee, my son ! " said Erbin. " And
may many attach themselves to thee in Lloegyr ! "

Then went Geraint to the place where his horse was,
and it was equipped with foreign armor, heavy and shin-
ing. And he desired Enid to mount her horse, and to
ride forward, and to keep a long way before him. ' And
whatever thou mayest see, and whatever thou mayest hear
concerning me," said he, "do thou not turn back. And
unless I speak unto thee, say not thou one word, either.'
And they set forward. And he did not choose the
pleasantest and most frequented road, but that which
was the wildest, and most beset by thieves and robbers,

296 The Boy's Mabinogion.

and venomous animals. And they came to a high road,
which they followed till they saw a vast forest ; and they
went towards it, and they saw four armed horsemen come
forth from the forest.

When the horsemen had beheld them, one of them said
to the others, " Behold, here is a good occasion for us to
capture two horses and armor, and a lady likewise ; for
this we shall have no difficulty in doing against yonder
single knight, who hangs his head so pensively and
heavily."

And Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what
she should do through fear of Geraint, who had told her
to be silent. " The vengeance of Heaven be upon me,"
she said, "if I would not rather receive my death from
his hand than from the hand of any other ! And though
he should slay me, yet will I speak to him, lest I should
have the misery to witness his death." So she waited for
Geraint until he came near to her. " Lord," said she,
didst thou hear the words of those men concerning thee ? "

Then he lifted up his eyes, and looked at her angrily.
"Thou hadst only," said he, "to hold thy peace as I
bade thee. I wish but for silence, and not for warning.
And though thou shouldest desire to see my defeat and
tny death by the hands of those men, yet do I feel no
dread."

Then the foremost of them couched his lance, and rushed
upon Geraint. And he received him, and that not feebly.
But he let the thrust go by him, while he stiuck the

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 297

horseman upon the centre of his shield in such a manner
that his shield was split, and his armor broken, and so
that a cubit's length of the shaft of Geraint's lance
passed through his body, and sent him to the earth the
length of the lance over his horse's crupper. Then the
second horseman attacked him furiously, being wroth at
the death of his companion. But with one thrust Gerain:
overthrew him also, and killed him as he had done the
other. Then the third set upon him, and he killed him
in like manner. And thus also he slew the fourth. Sad
and sorrowful was the maiden as she saw all this.
Geraint dismounted from his horse, and took the arms
of the men he had slain, and placed them upon their
saddles, and tied together the reins of their horses, and
he mounted his horse again. " Behold, what thou must
do," said he; "take the four horses, and drive them
before thee, and proceed forward, as I bade thee just
now. And say not one word unto me, unless I speak
first unto thee. And I declare unto Heaven," said he,
" if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy cost."

" I will do, as far as I can, lord," said she, " according
to thy desire."

Then they went forward through the forest ; and when
they left the forest, they came to a vast plain, in the centre
of which was a group of thickly tangled copse-wood ; and
from out thereof they beheld three horsemen coming to-
wards them, well equipped with armor, both they and their
horses. Then the maiden looked steadfastly upon them ;

298 The Boys Mabinogion.

and when they had come near, she heard them say one to
another, " Behold, here is a good arrival for us : here are
coming for us four horses and four suits of armor. We
shall easily obtain them, spite of yonder dolorous knight,
and the maiden also will fall into our power."

" This is but too true," said she to herself; " for my hus-
band is tired with his former combat. The vengeance of
Heaven will be upon me unless I warn him of this." So
the maiden waited until Geraint came up to her. " Lord,"
said she, " dost thou not hear the discourse of yonder men
concerning thee ? "

"What was it ? " asked he.

" They say to one another, that they will easily obtain
all this spoil."

"I declare to Heaven," he answered, "that their words
are less grievous to me than that thou wilt not be silent,
and abide by my counsel."

" My lord," said she, " I feared lest they should surprise
thee unawares."

"Hold thy peace, then !" said he. "Do not I desire
silence ? "

And thereupon one of the horsemen couched his lance,
and attacked Geraint. And he made a thrust at him
which he thought would be very effective. But Geraint
received it carelessly, and struck it aside ; and then he
rushed upon him, and aimed at the centre of his person,
and from the shock of man and horse the quantity of his
armor did not avail him, and the head of the lance and

Ger aint tJie Son of Erbin. 299

part of the shaft passed through him, so that he was car-
ried to the ground an arm and a spear's length over the
crupper of his horse. And both the other horsemen came
forward in their turn ; but their onset was not more success-
ful than that of their companion. And the maiden stood
by, looking at all this ; and on the one hand she was in
trouble lest Geraint should be wounded in his encounter
with the men, and on the other hand she was joyful to see
him victorious. Then Geraint dismounted, and bound the
three suits of armor upon the three saddles, and he fas-
tened the reins of all the horses together, so that he had
seven horses with him. And he mounted his own horse,
and commanded the maiden to drive forward the others.
" It is no more use for me to speak to thee than to refrain ;
for thou wilt not attend to my advice."

" I will do so, as far as I am able, lord," said she ; "but
I cannot conceal from thee the fierce and threatening
words which I may hear against thee, lord, from such
strange people as those that haunt this wilderness :'

" I declare to Heaven," said he, " that I desire nought
but silence : therefore hold thy peace."

"I will, lord, while I can." And the maiden went on
with the horses before her, and she pursued her way
straight onwards. And from the copse-wood already men-
tioned they journeyed over a vast and dreary open plain.
And at a great distance from them they beheld a wood,
and they could see neither end nor boundary to the wood,
except on that side that was nearest to them, and they

300 The Boy's Mabinogion.

went towards it. Then there came from out the wood five
horsemen, eager and bold, and mighty and strong, mount
ed upon chargers that were powerful, and large of bone,
and high mettled, and proudly snorting ; and both the men
and the horses were well equipped with arms. And when
they drew near to them, Enid heard them say, " Behold,
here is a fine booty coming to us, which we shall obtain
easily and without labor, for we shall have no trouble in
taking all those horses and arms, and the lady also, from
yonder single knight so doleful and sad."

Sorely grieved was the maiden upon hearing this dis-
course, so that she knew not in the world what she should
do. At last, however, she determined to warn Geraint :
so she turned her horse's head towards him. "Lord,"
said she, " if thou hadst heard as I did what yonder horse-
men said concerning thee, thy heaviness would be greater
than it is."

Angrily and bitterly did Geraint smile upon her, and he
said, "Thee do I hear doing every thing that I forbade
thee ; but it may be that thou wilt repent this yet."

And immediately, behold, the men met them ; and vic-
toriously and gallantly did Geraint overcome them all five.
And he placed the five suits of armor upon the five saddles,
and tied together the reins of the twelve horses, and gave
them in charge to Enid. " I know not," said he, " what
good it is for me to order thee ; but this time I charge
thee in an especial manner."

So the maiden went forward towards the wood, keeping

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 301

in advance of Geraint, as he had desired her ; and it
grieved him as much as his wrath would permit to see a
maiden so illustrious as she having so much trouble with
the care of the horses. Then they reached the wood, and
it was both deep and vast ; and in the wood night over-
took them. "Ah, maiden," said he, "it is vain to attempt
proceeding forward ! "

" Well, lord," said she, " whatsoever thou wishest, we
will do."

" It will be best for us," he answered, " to turn out of
the wood, and to rest, and wait for the day, in order to
pursue our journey."

" That will we gladly," said she. And they did so.

Having dismounted himself, he took her down from her
horse. " I cannot by any means refrain from sleep,
through weariness," said he. " Do thou, therefore, watch
the horses, and sleep not."

" I will, lord," said she. Then he went to sleep in his
armor ; and thus passed the night, which was not long at
that season. And when she saw the dawn of day appear,
she looked around her to see if he were waking, and there-
upon he woke. " My lord," she said, " I have desired to
awake thee for some time."

But he spake nothing to her about fatigue, as he had
desired her to be silent. Then he arose, and said unto
her, " Take the horses and ride on ; and keep straight on
before thee, as thou didst yesterday."

And early in the day they left the wood, and they came

302 The Boy's Mabinogion.

to an open country, with meadows on one hand, and mow-
ers mowing the meadows. And there was a river before
them, and the horses bent down, and drank the water.
And they went up out of the river by a lofty steep ; and
there they met a slender stripling, with a satchel about his
neck, and they saw that there was something in the satchel,
but they knew not what it was. And he had a small blue
pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of the
pitcher. And the youth saluted Geraint.

" Heaven prosper thee ! " said Geraint. " And whence
dost thou come ? "

" I come," said he, " from the city that lies before thee.
My lord," he added, " will it be displeasing to thee if -
ask whence thou comest also ? "

" By no means. Through yonder wood did I come."

" Thou earnest not through the wood to-day."

" No," he replied. " We were in the wood last night."

" I warrant," said the youth, " that thy condition there
last night was not the most pleasant, and that thou hadst
neither meat nor drink."

" No, by my faith ! " said he.

"Wilt thou follow my counsel," said the youth, "and
take thy meal from me ? "

" What sort of meal ? " he inquired.

" The breakfast which is sent for yonder mowers ; noth-
ing less than bread and meat and wine. And if thou wilt,
sir, they shall have none of it."

" I will," said he. " And Heaven reward thee for it ! "

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 303

So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from
off her horse. Then they washed, and took their repast
And the youth cut the bread in slices, and gave them
drink, and served them withal.

And when they had finished, the youth arose, and said
to Geraint, " My lord, with thy permission, I will now go
and fetch some food for the mowers."

" Go first to the town," said Geraint, "and take a lodg-
ing for me in the best place that thou knowest, and the
most commodious one for the horses, and take thou
whichever horse and arms thou choosest in payment for
thy service and thy gift."

" Heaven reward thee, lord ! " said the youth. " And this
would be ample to repay services much greater than those
I have rendered unto thee."

And to the town went the youth, and he took the best
and the most pleasant lodgings that he knew ; and after
that he went to the palace, having the horse and armor
with him, and proceeded to the place where the earl was,
and told him all his adventure. " I go now, lord," said
he, "to meet the young man, and to conduct him to his
lodging."

"Go gladly," said the earl; "and right joyfully shall
he be received here, if he so come."

And the youth went to meet Geraint, and told him that
he would be received gladly by the earl in his own palace ;
but he would go only to his lodgings. And he had a
goodly chamber, in which was plenty of straw, and

304 The Boy's Mabinogion.

drapery, and a spacious and commodious place he had
for the horses ; and the youth prepared for them plenty
of provender.

And after they had disarrayed themselves, Geraint
spoke thus to Enid : " Go," said he, " to the other
side of the chamber, and come not to this side of the
house ; and thou mayest call to thee the woman of
the house, if thou wilt."

" I will do, lord," said she, "as thou sayest."

And thereupon the man of the house came to Geraint,
and welcomed him. "O chieftain ! " he said, "hast thou
taken thy meal ? "

" I have," said he. Then the youth spoke to him, and
inquired if he would not drink something before he met
the earl. " Truly I will," said he.

So the youth went into the town, and brought them
drink. And they drank.

" I must needs sleep," said Geraint.

" Well," said the youth. " And whilst thou sleepest, I
will go to see the earl."

" Go gladly," he said, " and come here again when I
require thee." And Geraint went to sleep; and so did
Enid also.

And the youth came to the place where the earl was,
and the earl asked him where the lodgings of the knight
were, and he told him. "I must go," said the youth, "to
wait on him in the evening."

"Go," answered the earl, "and greet him well from

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 305

me, and tell him that in the evening I will go to see
him."

" This will I do," said the youth. So he came when it
was time for them to awake. And they arose and went
forth. And when it was time for them to take their food,
they took it. And the youth served them.

And Geraint inquired of the man of the house whethei
there were any of his companions that he wished to invite
to him, and he said that there were. "Bring them
hither, and entertain them at my cost with the best thou
canst buy in the town."

And the man of the house brought there those whom
he chose, and feasted them at Geraint's expense. There-
upon, behold the earl came to visit Geraint, and his twelve
honorable knights with him. And Geraint rose up and
welcomed him.

" Heaven preserve thee ! " said the Earl. Then they all
sat down according to their precedence in honor. And
the earl conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him the
object of his journey.

" I have none," he replied, " but to seek adventures,
and to follow my own inclination."

Then the earl cast his eye upon Enid, and he looked
at her steadfastly. And he thought he had never seen a
maiden fairer or more comely than her. So he arose, and
took his leave, and went forth with his attendants. And
she told not then to Geraint any of the conversation which
she had had with the earl, lest it should rouse his anger,
and cause him uneasiness and care.

306 The Boy's Mabinogion.

And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the
beginning of the night Enid slept a little ; and at midnight
she arose, and placed all Geraint's armor together, so that
it might be ready to put on. And although fearful of her
errand, she came to the side of Geraint's bed ; and she
spoke to him softly and gently, saying, " My lord, arise,
and clothe thyself ; for these were the words of the earl
to me, and his intention concerning me." So she told
Geraint [that the earl was coming with a troop of follow-
ers on the morrow to take her away by force].

And, although he was wroth with her, he took warning,
and clothed himself. And she lighted a candle, that he
might have light to do so.

" Leave there the candle," said he, " and desire the man
of the house to come here." Then she went, and the
man of the house came to him. " Dost thou know how
much I owe thee ? " asked Geraint.

" I think thou owest but little."

"Take the eleven horses and the eleven suits of armor."

" Heaven reward thee, lord ! " said he. " But I spent not
the value of one suit of armor upon thee."

" For that reason," said he, " thou wilt be the richer.
And now wilt thou come to guide me out of the town ? "

" I will gladly," said he. " And in which direction dost
thou intend to go ? "

" I wish to leave the town by a different way from that
by which I entered it." So the man of the lodgings
accompanied him as far as he desired. Then he bade the

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 307

maiden to go on before him. And she did so, and went
straight forward, and his host returned home. And he
had only just reached his house, when, behold, the greatest
tumult approached that was ever heard. And when he
looked out, he saw fourscore knights in complete armor
around the house, with the Earl Dwrm at their head.

" Where is the knight that was here ? " said the earl.

" By thy hand," said he, " he went hence some time
ago."

" Wherefore, villain," said he, " didst thou let him go
without informing me ? "

" My lord, thou didst not command me to do so, else
would I not have allowed him to depart."

" What way dost thou think that he took ? "

" I know not, except that he went along the high road."

And they turned their horses' heads that way, and see-
ing the tracks of the horses upon the high road, they fol-
lowed. And when the maiden beheld the dawning of the
day, she looked behind her, and saw vast clouds of dust
coming nearer and nearer to her. And thereupon she
became uneasy, and she thought that it was the earl and
his host coming after them. And thereupon she beheld a
knight appearing through the mist. " By my faith ! " said
she, " though he should slay me, it were better for me to
receive my death at his hands than to see him killed with-
out warning him. — My lord," she said to him, "seest thou
yonder man hastening after thee, arid many others with
him ? "

308 The Boy's Mabinogion.

" I do see him," said he ; " and, in despite of all my
orders, I see that thou wilt never keep silence." Then he
turned upon the knight, and with the first thrust he threw
him down under his horse's feet. And as long as there
remained one of the fourscore knights, he overthrew every
one of them at the first onset. And from the weakest to
the strongest, they all attacked him one after the other,
except the earl. And last of all the earl came against him
also. And he broke his lance, and then he broke a second.
But Geraint turned upon him, and struck him with his
lance upon the centre of his shield, so that by that single
thrust the shield was split, and all his armor broken, and
he himself was brought over his horse's crupper to the
ground, and was in peril of his life. And Geraint drew
near to him ; and at the noise of the trampling of his
horse the earl revived.

" Mercy, lord ! " said he to Geraint.

And Geraint granted him mercy. But through the
hardness of the ground where they had fallen, and the
violence of the stroke which they had received, there was
not a single knight amongst them that escaped without
receiving a fall mortally severe, and grievously painful,
and desperately wounding, from the hand of Geraint.

And Geraint journeyed along the high road that was
before him, and the maiden went on first ; and near them
they beheld a valley, which was the fairest ever seen, and
which had a large river running through it ; and there
was a bridge over the river, and the high road led to the

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 309

bridge. And above the bridge, upon the opposite side of
the river, they beheld a fortified town, the fairest ever
seen. And as they approached the bridge, Geraint saw
coming towards him from a thick copse a man mounted
upon a large and lofty steed, even of pace, and spirited,
though tractable. "Ah, knight!" said Geraint, "whence
comest thou ? "

" I come," said he, " from the valley below us."

" Canst thou tell me," said Geraint, " who is the owner
of this fair valley and yonder walled town ? "

" I will tell thee willingly," said he. " Gwiffert Petit
he is called by the Franks ; but the Cymry call him the
Little King."

" Can I go by yonder bridge," said Geraint, " and by
the lower highway that is beneath the town ? "

Said the knight, " Thou canst not go by his tower on
the other side of the bridge, unless thou dost intend to
combat him ; because it is his custom to encounter every
knight that comes upon his lands."

" I declare .to Heaven," said Geraint, " that I will,
nevertheless, pursue my journey that way."

" If thou dost so," said the knight, " thou wilt proba-
bly meet with shame and disgrace in reward for thy
daring."

Then Geraint proceeded along the road that led to
the town ; and the road brought him to a ground that
was hard and rugged and high and ridgy. And as he
journeyed thus, he beheld a knight following him upon

310 The Boy's Mabinogion.

a war-horse strong and large and proudly-stepping and
wide-hoofed and broad-chested. And he never saw a
man of smaller stature than he who was upon the horse.
And both he and his horse were completely armed.

When he had overtaken Geraint, he said to him, "Tell
me, chieftain, whether it is through ignorance or through
presumption that thou seekest to insult my dignity and
to infringe my rules."

" Nay," answered Geraint, " I knew not this road was
forbid to any."

" Thou didst know it," said the other. " Come with me
to my court, to give me satisfaction."

" That will I not, by my faith ! " said Geraint. " I would
not go even to thy lord's court, excepting Arthur were
thy lord."

" By the hand of Arthur himself," said the knight, " I
will have satisfaction of thee, or receive my overthrow at
thy hands ! " And immediately they charged one another.
And a squire of his came to serve him with lances as he
broke them. And they gave each other such hard and
severe strokes, that their shields lost all their color. But
it was very difficult for Geraint to fight with him on
account of his small size ; for he was hardly able to get a
full aim at him with all the efforts he could make. And
they fought thus until their horses were brought down
upon their knees. And at length Geraint threw the knight
headlong to the ground ; and then they fought on foot,
and they gave one another blows so boldly fierce, sc

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 311

frequent, and so severely powerful, that their helmets
were pierced, and their skullcaps were broken, and their
arms were shattered, and the light of their eyes was
darkened by sweat and blood. At the last Geraint
became enraged, and he called to him all his strength.
And boldly angry, and swiftly resolute, and furiously
determined, he lifted up his sword, and struck him on
the crown of his head a blow so mortally painful, so
violent, so fierce, and so penetrating, that it cut through
all his head armor, and his skin, and his flesh, until it
wounded the very bone, and the sword flew out of the
hand of the Little King to the furthest end of the plain,
and he besought Geraint that he would have mercy and
compassion upon him.

"Though thou hast been neither courteous nor just,"
said Geraint, " thou shalt have mercy, upon condition
that thou wilt become my ally, and engage never to fight
against me again, but to come to my assistance whenever
thou hearest of my being in trouble."

" This will I do gladly, lord," said he. So he pledged
him his faith thereof. " And now, lord, come with me,"
said he, "to my court yonder, to recover from thy weari-
ness and fatigue."

" That will I not, by Heaven ! " said he.

Then Gwiffert Petit beheld Enid where she stood, and
it grieved him to see one of her noble mien appear so
deeply afflicted. And he said to Geraint, " My lord,
thou doest wrong not to take repose, and refresh thyself

312 The Boy's Mabinogion.

a while; for, if thou meetest with any difficulty in thy
present condition, it will not be easy for thee to surmount

it."

But Geraint would do no other than proceed on his jour-
ney, and he mounted his horse in pain, and all covered with
blood. And the maiden went on first, and they proceeded
towards the wood which they saw before them.

And the heat of the sun was very great, and through
the blood and sweat, Geraint's armor cleaved to his flesh
And when they came into the wood, he stood under a tree,
to avoid the sun's heat ; and his wounds pained him more
than they had done at the time when he received them.
And the maiden stood under another tree. And, lo ! they
heard the sound of horns, and a tumultuous noise ; and
the occasion of it was that Arthur and his company had
come down to the wood. And while Geraint was consider
ing which way he should go to avoid them, behold, he was
espied by a foot-page, who was an attendant on the stew-
ard of the household; and he went to the steward, and
told him what kind of man he had seen in the wood.

Then the steward caused his horse to be saddled, and
he took his lance and his shield, and went to the place
where Geraint was. " Ah, knight ! " said he, " what dost
thou here ? "

" I am standing under a shady tree to avoid the heat
and the rays of the sun."

" Wherefore is thy journey ? and who art thou ? "

" I seek adventures, and go where I list."

Geraint and the Maiden at the Edge of the Wood.

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 313

" Indeed ! " said Kai. " Then come with me to see
Arthur, who is here hard by."

" That will I not, by Heaven ! " said Geraint.

" Thou must needs come," said Kai. Then Geraint
knew who he was ; but Kai did not know Geraint. And
Kai attacked Geraint as best he could. And Geraint be-
came wroth, and he struck him with the shaft of his lance,
so that he rolled headlong to the ground. But chastise-
ment worse than this would he not inflict on him.

Scared and wildly Kai arose, and he mounted his horse,
and went back to his lodging. And thence he proceeded
to Gwalchmai's tent. " O sir ! " said he to Gwalchmai,
" I was told by one of the attendants, that he saw in the
wood above a wounded knight, having on battered armor ;
and if thou dost right, thou wilt go and see if this be
true."

" I care not if I do so," said Gwalchmai.

" Take, then, thy horse, and some of thy armor," said
Kai ; " for I hear that he is not over courteous to those
who approach him."

So Gwalchmai took his spear and his shield, and mount-
ed his horse, and came to the spot where Geraint was.
" Sir knight," said he, " wherefore is thy journey ? "

" I journey for my own pleasure, and to seek the adven-
tures of the world."

" Wilt thou tell me who thou art ? or wilt thou come
and visit Arthur, who is near at hand ? "

" I will make no alliance with thee, nor will I go and

314 The Boy's Mabinogion.

— - - - - - — -»

visit Arthur," said he. And he knew that it was Gwalch-
mai ; but Gwalchmai knew him not.

" I purpose not to leave thee," said Gwalchmai, " till I
know who thou art." And he charged him with his lance,
and struck him on his shield, so that the shaft was shiv
ered into splinters, and their horses were front to front.
Then Gwalchmai gazed fixedly upon him, and he knew
him. " Ah, Geraint ! " said he, " is it thou that art here ? "

" I am not Geraint," said he.

" Geraint thou art, by Heaven ! " he replied ; " and a
wretched and insane expedition is this." Then he looked
around, and beheld Enid, and he welcomed her gladly.
" Geraint," said Gwalchmai, " come thou and see Arthur :
he is thy lord and thy cousin."

" I will not," said he ; " for I am not in a fit state to go
and see any one." Thereupon, behold one of the pages
came after Gwalchmai to speak to him. So he sent him
to apprise Arthur that Geraint was there wounded, and
that he would not go to visit him, and that it was pitiable
to see the plight that he was in. And this he did without
Geraint's knowledge, inasmuch as he spoke in a whispei
to the page. " Entreat Arthur," said he, " to have his
tent brought near to the road, for he will not meet him
willingly, and it is not easy to compel him in the mood he
is in." So the page came to Arthur, and told him this.
And he caused his tent to be removed unto the side of
the road. And the maiden rejoiced in her heart. And
Gwalchmai led Geraint onwards along the road, till they

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 315

came to the place where Arthur was encamped, and the
pages were pitching his tent by the roadside.

" Lord," said Geraint, "all hail unto thee ! "

" Heaven prosper thee ! And who art thou ? " said
Arthur.

" It is Geraint," said Gwalchmai ; " and of his own free
will would he not come to meet thee."

"Verily," said Arthur, "he is bereft of his reason."

Then came Enid, and saluted Arthur. " Heaven pro-
tect thee ! " said he. And thereupon he caused one of the
pages to take her from her horse. " Alas, Enid ! " said
Arthur, " what expedition is this ? "

" I know not, lord," said she, " save that it behooves
me to journey by the same road that he journeys."

" My lord," said Geraint, " with thy permission we will
depart,"

" Whither wilt thou go ? " said Arthur. " Thou canst
not proceed now, unless it be unto thy death."

" He will not suffer himself to be invited by me," said
Gwalchmai.

"But by me he will," said Arthur; "and moreover he
does not go from here until he is healed."

" I had rather, lord," said Geraint, " that thou wouldest
let me go forth."

" That will I not, I declare to Heaven ! " said he. Then
he caused a maiden to be sent for to conduct Enid to the
tent where Gwenhwyvar's chamber was. And Gwenhwy-
var and all her women were joyful at her coming ; and they

316 The Boy's Mabinogion.

took off her riding-dress, and placed other garments upon
her. Arthur also called Kadyrieith, and ordered him to
pitch a tent for Geraint and the physicians ; and he
enjoined him to provide him with abundance of all that
might be requisite for him. And Kadyrieith did as he had
commanded him. And Morgan Tud and his disciples were
brought to Geraint.

And Arthur and his hosts remained there nearly a
month, whilst Geraint was being healed. And when he
was fully recovered, Geraint came to Arthur, and asked
his permission to depart.

" I know not if thou art quite well."

" In truth I am, lord," said Geraint.

" I shall not believe thee concerning that, but the phy-
sicians that were with thee." So Arthur caused the
physicians to be summoned to him, and asked them if it
were true.

" It is true, lord," said Morgan Tud. So the next day
Arthur permitted him to go forth, and he pursued his jour-
ney. And on the same day Arthur removed thence.

And Geraint desired Enid to go on, and to keep before
him, as she had formerly done. And she went forward
along the high road. And as they journeyed thus, they
heard an exceeding loud wailing near to them. " Stay thou
here," said he, " and I will go and see what is the cause
ot this wailing."

" I will," said she.

Then he went forward unto an open glade that was near

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 317

the road. And in the glade he saw two horses, one hav-
ing a man's saddle, and the other a woman's saddle upon
it. And, behold, there was a knight lying dead in his
armor, and a young damsel in a riding-dress standing over
him, lamenting. " Ah, lady ! " said Geraint, " what hath
befallen thee ? "

"Behold," she answered, "I journeyed here with my
beloved husband, when, lo ! three giants came upon us,
and without any cause in the world they slew him."

"Which way went they hence ?" said Geraint.

" Yonder by the high road," she replied.

So he returned to Enid. " Go," said he, " to the lady
that is below yonder, and await me there till I come."

She was sad when he ordered her to do thus ; but never-
theless she went to the damsel, whom it was ruth to hear,
and she felt certain that Geraint would never return.
Meanwhile Geraint followed the giants, and overtook them.
And each of them was greater of stature than three other
men, and a huge club was on the shoulder of each. Then
he rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through
his body. And having drawn it forth again, he pierced
another of them through likewise. But the third turned
upon him, and struck him with his club ; so that he split
his shield, and crushed his shoulder, and opened his wounds
anew, and all his blood began to flow from him. But
Geraint drew his sword, and attacked the giant, and gave
him a blow on the crown of his head so severe and fierce
and violent, that his head and his neck were split down to

318 The Boy's Mabinogion.

his shoulders, and he fell dead. So Geraint left him thus,
and returned to Enid. And when he saw her, he fell down
lifeless from his horse. Piercing and loud and thrilling
was the cry that Enid uttered. And she came and stood
over him where he had fallen. And at the sound of her
cries came the Earl of Limours, and the host that jour-
neyed with him, whom her lamentations brought out of
their road. And the earl said to Enid, " Alas, lady ! what
hath befallen thee ? "

" Ah, good sir ! " said she, " the only man I have loved,
or ever shall love, is slain."

Then he said to the other, " And what is the cause of
thy grief ? "

"They have slain my beloved husband also," said
she.

" And who was it that slew them ? "

" Some giants," she answered, " slew my best-beloved ;
and the other knight went in pursuit of them, and came
back in the state thou seest, his blood flowing excessively.
But it appears to me that he did not leave the giants with-
out killing some of them, if not all." The earl caused
the knight that was dead to be buried, but he thought that
there still remained some life in Geraint ; and to see if he
yet would live, he had him carried with him in the hollow
of his shield, and upon a bier. And the two damsels went
to the court ; and when they arrived there, Geraint was
placed upon a litter-couch in front of the table that was in
the hall. Then they all took off their travelling-gear, and

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 3 1 9

the earl besought Enid to do the same, and to clothe her
self in other garments.

" I will not, by Heaven ! " said she.

" Ah, lady ! " said he, " be not so sorrowful for this
matter."

" It were hard to persuade me to be otherwise," said she.

" I will act towards thee in such wise, that thou need-
est not be sorrowful, whether yonder knight live or die.
Behold, a good earldom, together with myself, will I bestow
on thee. Be therefore happy and joyful."

" I declare to Heaven," said she, " that henceforth I
shall never be joyful while I live."

"Come, then," said he, "and eat."

" No, by Heaven, I will not," she answered.

" But, by Heaven, thou shalt," said he. So he took her
with him to the table, against her will, and many times
desired her to eat.

" I call Heaven to witness," said she, " that I will not
eat until the man that is upon yonder bier shall eat like-

wise."

"Thou canst not fulfil that," said the earl. "Yonder
man is dead already."

" I will prove that I can," said she.

Then he offered her a goblet of liquor. " Drink this
goblet," he said, " and it will cause thee to change thy
mind."

" Evil betide me," she answered, " if I drink aught
until he drink also."

The Boy's Mabinogion.

1 Truly," said the earl, " it is of no more avail for me
to be gentle with thee than ungentle." And he gave her
a box in the ear. Thereupon she raised a loud and pier-
cing shriek ; and her lamentations were much greater
than they had been before, for she considered in her mind,
that, had Geraint been alive, he durst not have struck her
thus.

But behold, at the sound of her cry, Geraint revived
from his swoon, and he sat up on the bier, and, finding his
sword in the hollow of his shield, he rushed to the place
where the earl was, and struck him a fiercely-wounding,
severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting blow upon the
crown of his head, so that he clove him in twain, until his
sword was stayed by the table. Then all left the board,
and fled away. And this was not so much through fear
of the living as through the dread they felt at seeing the
dead man rise up to slay them. And Geraint looked upon
Enid, and he was grieved for two causes : one was to see
that Enid had lost her color and her wonted aspect ; and
the other, to know that she was in the right. " Lady,"
said he, " knowest thou where our horses are ? "

" I know, lord, where thy horse is," she replied ; " but
I know not where is the other. Thy horse is in the house
yonder."

So he went to the house, and brought forth his horse,
and mounted him, and took up Enid from the ground, and
placed her upon the horse with him. And he rode for-
ward. And their road lay between two hedges And the

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 3 2 1

night was gaining on the day. And lo ! they saw behind
them the shafts of spears betwixt them and the sky, and
they heard the trampling of horses and the noise of a host
approaching. " I hear something following us," said he,
" and I will put thee on the other side of the hedge."
And thus he did. And thereupon, behold, a knight
pricked towards him, and couched his lance.

When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, " O chief-
tain ! whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by
slaying a dead man ? "

" O Heaven ! " said he, " is it Geraint ? "

" Yes, in truth," said she. " And who art thou ? "

" I am the Little King," he answered, " coming to thy
assistance ; for I heard that thou wast in trouble. And if
thou hadst followed my advice, none of these hardships
would have befallen thee."

" Nothing can happen," said Geraint, " without the
will of Heaven, though much good results from counsel."

"Yes," said the Little King; "and I know good coun-
sel for thee now. Come with me to the court of a son-
in-law of my sister, which is near here, and thou shalt
have the best medical assistance in the kingdom."

" I will do so gladly," said Geraint. And Enid was
placed upon the horse of one of the Little King's squires,
and they went forward to the baron's palace. And they
were received there with gladness, and they met with hos-
pitality and attention. And the next morning they went
to seek physicians, and it was not long before they came ,*

322 The Boy's Mabinogion.

and they attended Geraint until he was perfectly well.
And while Geraint was under medical care, the Little
King caused his armor to be repaired, until it was as good
as it had ever been. And they remained there a fortnight
and a month.

Then the Little King said to Geraint, " Now will we go
towards my own court, to take rest and amuse ourselves."

" Not so," said Geraint. " We will first journey for one
day more, and return again."

" With all my heart ! " said the Little King. " Do thou
go then." And early in the day they set forth. And more
gladly and more joyfully did Enid journey with them that
day than she had ever done. And they came to the main
road. And when they reached a place where the road
divided in two, they beheld a man on foot coming towards
them along one of these roads ; and Gwiffert asked the
man whence he came.

"I come," said he, "from an errand in the country."

" Tell me," said Geraint : " which is the best for me to
follow of these two roads ? "

" That is the best for thee to follow," answered he ;
"for if thou goest by this one, thou wilt never return.
Below us," said he, " there is a hedge of mist, and within
it are enchanted games ; and no one who has gone there
has ever returned. And the court of the Earl Owain is
there, and he permits no one to go to fodge in the town,
except he will go to his court."

" I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, " that we will

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 323

take the lower road." And they went along it until they
came to the town. And they took the fairest and pleasant-
est place in the town for their lodging. And while they
were thus, behold, a young man came to them, and
greeted them. " Heaven be propitious to thee ! " said
they.

" Good sirs," said he, " what preparations are you mak-
ing here ? "

" We are taking up our lodging," said they, " to pass
the night."

" It is not the custom with him who owns the town,"
he answered, " to permit any of gentle birth, unless they
come to stay in his court, to abide here therefore : come
ye to the court."

" We will come gladly," said Geraint. And they went
with the page, and they were joyfully received. And the
earl came to the hall to meet them, and he commanded
the tables to be laid. And they washed, and sat down.
And this is the order in which they sat : Geraint on one
side of the earl, and Enid on the other side, and next
to Enid the Little King, and then the countess next to
Geraint ; and all after that as became their rank. Then
Geraint recollected the games, and thought that he should
not go to them ; and on that account he did not eat.
Then the earl looked upon Geraint, and considered ; and
he bethought him that his not eating was because of the
games, and it grieved him that he had ever established
those games, were it only on account of losing such a

324 The Boy's Mabinogion.

youth as Geraint. And if Geraint had asked him to
abolish the games, he would gladly have done so.

Then the earl said to Geraint, " What thought occupies
thy mind, that thou dost not eat ? If thou hesitatest about
going to the games, thou shalt not go, and no other of thy
rank shall ever go, either."

" Heaven reward thee ! " said Geraint. " But I wish
nothing better than to go to the games, and to be shown
the way thither."

" If that is what thou dost prefer, thou shalt obtain it
willingly."

" I do prefer it, indeed," said he. Then they ate, and
they were amply served, and they had a variety of gifts,
and abundance of liquor. And when they had finished
eating they arose. And Geraint called for his horse and
his armor, and he accoutred both himself and his horse.
And all the hosts went forth until they came to the side
of the hedge ; and the hedge was so lofty, that it reached
as high as they could see in the air ; and upon every stake
in the hedge, except two, there was the head of a man,
and the number of stakes throughout the hedge was very
great.

Then said the Little King, " May no one go in with the
chieftain ? "

" No one may," said Earl Owain.

" Which way can I enter ? " inquired Geraint.

" I know not," said Owain. " But enter by the way
that thou wilt, and that seemeth easiest to thee."

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 325

Then fearlessly and unhesitatingly Geraint dashed for-
ward into the mist. And on leaving the mist he came to
a large orchard ; and in the orchard he saw an open space,
wherein was a tent of red satin. And the door of the tent
was open, and an apple-tree stood in front of the door of
the tent ; and on a branch of the apple-tree hung a huge
hunting-horn. Then he dismounted, and went into the
tent ; and there was no one in the tent save one maiden
sitting in a golden chair, and another chair was opposite
to her, empty. And Geraint went to the empty chair, and
sat down therein.

" Ah, chieftain ! '" said the maiden, " I would not coun-
sel thee to sit in that chair."

" Wherefore ? " said Geraint.

" The man to whom that chair belongs has never suffered
another to sit in it."

" I care not," said Geraint, " though it displease him
that I sit in the chair." And thereupon they heard a
mighty tumult around the tent. And Geraint looked to
see what was the cause of the tumult. And he beheld
without a knight mounted upon a war-horse, proudly snort-
ing, high-mettled, and large of bone ; and a robe of honor
in two parts was upon him and upon his horse, and beneath
it was plenty of armor.

" Tell me, chieftain," said he to Geraint, " who it was
that bade thee sit there."

" Myself," answered he.

" It was wrong of thee to do me this shame and dis-

326 The Boy's Mabinogion.

grace. Arise, and do me satisfaction for thine inso-
lence."

Then Geraint arose ; and they encountered immediately ;
and they broke a set of lances, and a second set, and a
third ; and they gave each other fierce and frequent
strokes. And at last Geraint became enraged ; and he
urged on his horse, and rushed upon him, and gave him a
thrust on the centre of his shield, so that it was split, and
so that the head of his lance went through his armor, and
his girths were broken, and he himself was borne headlong
to the ground, the length of Geraint's lance and arm, over
his horse's crupper. " Oh, my lord ! " said he, " thy
mercy, and thou shalt have what thou wilt."

" I only desire," said Geraint, " that this game shall no
longer exist here, nor the hedge of mist, nor magic, nor
enchantment."

" Thou shalt have this gladly, lord," he replied.

" Cause, then, the mist to disappear from this place,"
said Geraint.

" Sound yonder horn," said he, " and when thou sound-
est it, the mist will vanish ; but it will not go hence unless
the horn be blown by the knight by whom I am van-
quished."

And sad and sorrowful was Enid where she remained,
through anxiety concerning Geraint. Then Geraint went
and sounded the horn. And at the first blast he gave, the
mist vanished. And all the hosts came together, and they
all became reconciled to each other. And the earl invited

Geraint the Son of Erbin. 327

Geraint and the Little King to stay with him that night.
And the next morning they separated. And Geraint went
towards his own dominions ; and thenceforth he reigned
prosperously, and his warlike fame and splendor lasted
with renown and honor both to him and to Enid from that
time forth.

328 The Boy's Mabinogion.

THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG.

MAXEN WLEDIG was emperor * of Rome ; and he
was a comelier man. and a better and a wiser, than
any emperor that had been before him. And one day he
held a council of kings ; and he said to his friends, " I
desire to go to-morrow to hunt." And the next day in
the morning he set forth with his retinue, and came to the
valley of the river that flowed towards Rome. And he
hunted through the valley until mid-day. And with him
also were two and thirty crowned kings, that were his vas-
sals. Not for the delight of hunting went the emperor
with them, but to put himself on equal terms with those
kings.

And the sun was high in the sky over their heads, and
the heat was great. And sleep came upon Maxen Wledig.
And his attendants stood and set up their shields around
him upon the shafts of their spears to protect him from
the sun, and they placed a gold enamelled shield under his
head ; and so Maxen slept.

And he saw a dream. And this is the dream that he
saw. He was journeying along the valley of the river

i " Maxen Wledig " is the Emperor Maximus, A.D. 383, who was in Britain with
his army when he obtained the throne. Many Welsh stories are told about him.

The Dream of Max&n Wledig. 329

towards its source ; and he came to the highest mountain
in the world. And he thought that the mountain was as
high as the sky. And when he came over the mountain, it
seemed to him that he v/ent through the fairest and most
level regions that man ever yet beheld, on the other side
of the mountain. And he saw large and mighty rivers
descending from the mountain to the sea, and towards the
mouths of the rivers he proceeded. And as he journeyed
thus he came to the mouth of the largest river ever seea
And he beheld a great city at the entrance of the river,
and a vast castle in the city, and he saw many high towers
of various colors in the castle. And he saw a fleet at the
mouth of the river, the largest ever seen. And he saw
one ship among the fleet : larger was it by far, and fairer,
than all the others. Of such part of the ship as he could
see above the water, one plank was gilded and the other
silvered over. He saw a bridge of the bone of the whale
from the ship to the land, and he thought that he went
along the bridge, and came into the ship. And a sail was
hoisted on the ship, and along the sea and the ocean was
it borne. Then it seemed that he came to the fairest
island in the whole world, and he traversed the island from
sea to sea, even to the farthest shore of the island. Val-
leys he saw, and steeps, and rocks of wondrous height,
and rugged precipices. Never yet saw he the like. And
thence he beheld an island in the sea, facing this rugged
land. And between him and this island was a country of
which the plain was as large as the sea, the mountain as

330 The Boy's Mabinogion.

vast as the wood. And from the mountain he saw a river
that flowed through the land, and fell into the sea. And
at the mouth of the river he beheld a castle, the fairest
that man ever saw ; and the gate of the castle was open,
and he went into the castle. And in the castle he saw a
fair hall, of which the roof seemed to be all gold ; the walls
of the hall seemed to be entirely of glittering precious
gems, the doors all seemed to be of gold. Golden seats
he saw in the hall, and silver tables. And on a seat
opposite to him he beheld two auburn-haired youths play-
ing at chess. He saw a silver board for the chess, and
golden pieces thereon. The garments of the youths were
of jet-black satin ; and chaplets of ruddy gold bound their
hair, whereon were sparkling jewels of great price, rubies,
and gems alternately with imperial stones ; buskins of
new Cordovan leather on their feet, fastened by slides of
red gold.

And beside a pillar in the hall he saw a hoary-headed
man in a chair of ivory, with the figures of two eagles of
ruddy gold thereon. Bracelets of gold were upon his
arms, and many rings were on his hands, and a golden
torque about his neck ; and his hair was bound with a
golden diadem. He was of powerful aspect. A chess-
board of gold was before him, and a rod of gold, and a
steel file in his hand. And he was carving out chessmen.

And he saw a maiden sitting before him in a chair of
ruddy gold. Not more easy than to gaze upon the sun
when brightest was it to look upon her by reason of her

The Dream of Maxcn Wledig. 33 1

beauty. A vest of white silk was upon the maiden, with
clasps of red gold at the breast ; and a surcoat of gold
tissue upon her, and a frontlet of red gold upon her head,
and rubies and gems were in the frontlet, alternating with
pearls and imperial stones. And a girdle of ruddy gold
was around her. She was the fairest sight that man ever
beheld.

The maiden arose from her chair before him, and they
two sat down together in the chair of gold ; and the chair
was not less roomy for them both than for the maiden
alone. And behold, through the chafing of the dogs at
their leashing, and the clashing of the shields as they
struck against each other, and the beating together of the
shafts of the spears, and the neighing of the horses and
their prancing, the emperor awoke.

And when he awoke, nor spirit nor existence was left
him, because of the maiden whom he had seen in his
sleep ; for the love of the maiden pervaded his whole
frame. Then his household spake unto him. " Lord,"
said they, "is it not past the time for thee to take thy
food ? " Thereupon the emperor mounted his palfrey,
the saddest man that mortal ever saw, and went forth
towards Rome.

And thus he was during the space of a week When
they of the household went to drink wine and mead out
of golden vessels, he went not with any of them. When
they went to listen to songs and tales, he went not with
them there ; neither could he be persuaded to do any

332 The Boy's Mabinogion.

thing but sleep. And as often as he slept, he beheld
in his dreams the maiden he loved best : but except
when he slept he saw nothing of her ; for he knew not
where in the world she was.

One day the page of the chamber spake unto him : now,
although he was page of the chamber, he was king of the
Romans. "Lord," said he, "all the people revile thee."

"Wherefore do they revile me ? " asked the emperor.

" Because they can get neither message nor answer
from thee, as men should have from their lord. This is
the cause why thou art spoken evil of."

"Youth," said the emperor, "do thou bring unto me
the wise men of Rome, and I will tell them wherefore
I am sorrowful."

Then the wise men of Rome were brought to the
emperor, and he spake to them. " Sages of Rome," said
he, " I have seen a dream. And in the dream I beheld a
maiden, and because of the maiden is there neither life,
nor spirit, nor existence within me."

"Lord," they answered, "since thou judgest us worthy
to counsel thee, we will give thee counsel. And this is
our counsel : that thou send messengers for three years to
the three parts of the world to seek for thy dream. And
as thou knowest not what day or what night good news
may come to thee, the hope thereof will support thee."

So the messengers journeyed for the space of a year,
wandering about the world, and seeking tidings concern-
ing his dream. But when they came back at the end oi

The Dream of Maxcn Wledig. 333

the year, they knew not one word more than they did the
day they set forth. And then was the emperor exceeding
sorrowful ; for he thought that he should never have
tidings of her whom best he loved.

Then spoke the King of the Romans unto the emperor
" Lord," said he, " go forth to hunt by the way thou didst
seem to go, whether it were to the east or to the west."

So the emperor went forth to the hunt, and he came
to the bank of the river. " Behold, said he, " this is
where I was when I saw the dream, and I went towards
the source of the river westward."

And thereupon thirteen messengers of the emperor's
set forth ; and before them they saw a high mountain,
which seemed to them to touch the sky. Now this was
the guise in which the messengers journeyed : one sleeve
was on the cap of each of them in front, as a sign that
they were messengers, in order that through what hostile
land soever they might pass no harm might be done them.
And when they were come over this mountain, they be-
held vast plains, and large rivers flowing there through.
"Behold," said they, " the land which our master saw."

And they went along the mouths of the rivers, until
they came to the mighty river which they saw flowing to
the sea, and the vast city, and the many-colored high
towers in the castle. They saw the largest fleet in the
world in the harbor of the river, and one ship that was
larger than any of the others. " Behold again," said they,
' fhe c^ream that our master saw." And in the great ship

334 The Boy's Mabinogion.

they crossed the sea, and came to the Island of Britain.
And they traversed the island until they came to Snowdon.
"Behold," said they, "the rugged land that our mastei
saw." And they went forward until they saw Anglesey
before them, and until they saw Arvon likewise. " Be-
hold," said they, "the land our master saw in his sleep."
And they saw Aber Sain, and a castle at the mouth of the
river. The portal of the castle saw they open, and into
the castle they went, and they saw a hall in the castle.
Then said they, "Behold the hall which he saw in his
sleep." They went into the hall, and they beheld two
youths playing at chess on the golden bench. And they
beheld the hoary-headed man beside the pillar, in the ivory
chair, carving chessmen. And they beheld the maiden
sitting on a chair of ruddy gold.

The messengers bent down upon their knees. " Empress
of Rome, all hail ! "

"Ha, gentles," said the maiden, "ye bear the seeming
of honorable men, and the badge of envoys : what mockery
is this ye do to me ? "

" We mock thee not, lady ; but the Emperor of Rome
hath seen thee in his sleep, and he has neither life nor
spirit left because of thee. Thou shalt have of us there-
fore the choice, lady, — whether thou wilt go with us and
be made Empress of Rome, or that the emperor come
hither and take thee for his wife?"

"Ha, lords," said the maiden, "I will not deny what ye
say, neither will I believe it too well. If the emperor love
me, let him come here to seek me."

The Dream of Max en Wledig. 335

And by day and night the messengers hied them back.
And when their horses failed, they bought other fresh
ones. And when they came to Rome, they saluted the
emperor, and asked their boon, which was given to them
according as they named it. "We will be thy guides,
lord," said they, "over sea and over land, to the place
where is the woman whom best thou lovest ; for we know
her name, and her kindred, and her race."

And immediately the emperor set forth with his army.
And these men were his guides. Towards the Island of
Britain they went over the sea and the deep. And he
conquered the island from Beli the son of Manogan, and
his sons, and drove them to the sea, and went forward even
unto Arvon. And the emperor knew the land when he
saw it. And when he beheld the castle of Aber Sain,
" Look yonder," said he, "there is the castle wherein I
saw the damsel whom I best love." And he went forward
into the castle and into the hall, and there he saw Kynan
the son of Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav, playing
at chess. And he saw Eudav the son of Caradawc sitting
on a chair of ivory, carving chessmen. And the maiden
whom he had beheld in his sleep he saw sitting on a chair
of gold. "Empress of Rome," said he, "all hail ! ", And
the emperor threw his arms about her neck ; and she
became his bride.

And the next day in the morning, the damsel asked her
maiden portion. And he told her to name what she would.
And she asked to have the Island of Britain for her father,

336 The Boy's Mabinogion.

from the Channel to the Irish Sea, together with the three
adjacent islands, to hold under the Empress of Rome, and
to have three chief castles made for her in whatever places
she might choose in the Island of Britain. And she chose
to have the highest castle made at Arvon. And they
brought thither earth from Rome, that it might be more
healthful for the emperor to sleep and sit and walk upon.
After that, the two other castles were made for her, which
were Caerlleon and Caermarthen.

And one day the emperor went to hunt at Caermarthen,
and he came so far as the top of Brevi Vawr, and there
the emperor pitched his tent. And that encamping place
is called Cadeir Maxen, even to this day. And because
that he built the castle with a myriad of men, he called it
Caervyrddin. Then Helen bethought her to make high
roads from one castle to another throughout the Island of
Britain. And the roads were made. And for this cause
are they called the Roads of Helen Luyddawc, that she
was sprung from a native of this island ; and the men of
the Island of Britain would not have made these great
roads for any save for her.

Seven years did the emperor tarry in this island. Now,
at that time, the men of Rome had a custom, that what-
soever emperor should remain in other lands more than
seven years should remain to his own overthrow, and
should never return to Rome again.

So they made a new emperor. And this one wrote a
letter of threat to Maxen. There was nought in the letter

The Dream of Maxen Wledig. 337

but only this : " If thou comest, and if thou ever comest
to Rome." And even unto Caerlleon came this letter to
Maxen, and these tidings. Then sent he a letter to the
man who styled himself emperor in Rome. There was
nought in that letter also but only this : " If I come to
Rome, and if I come."

And thereupon Maxen set forth towards Rome with his
army, and vanquished France and Burgundy, and every
land on the way, and sat down before the city of Rome.

A year was the emperor before the city, and he was no
nearer taking it than the first day. And after him there
came the brothers of Helen Luyddawc from the Island of
Britain, and a small host with them ; and better warriors
were in that small host than twice as many Romans. And
the emperor was told that a host was seen halting close to
his army, and encamping, and no man ever saw a fairer
or better appointed host for its size, nor more handsome
standards.

And Helen went to see the hosts, and she knew the
standards of her brothers. Then came Kynan the son of
Eudav, and Adeon the son of Eudav, to meet the emperor.
And the emperor was glad because of them, and embraced
them,

Then they looked at the Romans as they attacked the
city. Said Kynan to his brother, " We will try to attack
the city more expertly than this." So they measured by
night the height of the wall, and they sent their carpen-
ters to the wood, and a ladder was made for every four

338 The Boy's Mabinogion.

men of their number. Now, when these were ready, every
day at mid-day the emperors went to meat, and they ceased
to fight on both sides till all had finished eating. And in
the morning the men of Britain took their food, and they
drank until they were invigorated. And while the two
emperors were at meat, the Britons came to the city, and
placed their ladders against it, and forthwith they came in
through the city.

The new emperor had no time to arm himself when
they fell upon him, and slew him, and many others with
him. And three nights and three days were they sub-
duing the men that were in the city, and taking the castle
And others of them kept the city, lest any of the host Oi
Maxen should come therein, until they had subjected al
to their will.

Then spake Maxen to Helen Luyddawc. " I marvel,
lady," said he, " that thy brothers have not conquered
this city for me."

" Lord, emperor," she answered, " the wisest youths in
the world are my brothers. Go thou thither, and ask the
city of them, and if it be in their possession thou shalt
have it gladly." So the emperor and Helen went and
demanded the city. And they told the emperor that
none had taken the city, and that none could give it him,
but the men of the Island of Britain. Then the gates of
the city of Rome were opened, and the emperor sat on
the throne, and all the men of Rome submitted themselves
unto him.

The Dream of Maxen Wlideg. 339

The emperor then said unto Kynan and Adeon,
" Lords," said he, " I have now had possession of the
whole of my empire. This host give I unto you to
vanquish whatever region ye may desire in the world."

So they set forth and conquered lands and castles and
cities. And they slew all the men ; but the women they
kept alive. And thus they continued until the young
men that had come with them were grown gray-headed,
from the length of time they were upon this conquest.

Then spoke Kynan unto Adeon his brother, " Whether
wilt thou rather," said he, " tarry in this land, or go back
into the land whence thou didst come forth ? " Now he
chose to go back to his own land, and many with him.
But Kynan tarried there with the other part, and dwelt
there.

And this dream is called the Dream of Maxen Wledig,
Emperor of Rome. And here it ends.

34-Q The Boy's Mabinogion.

T A LIES IN.1

IN times past there lived in Penllyn a man of gentle
lineage named Tegid Voel ; and his dwelling was in
the midst of the Lake Tegid ; and his wife was called
Caridwen. And there was born to him of his wife a son

1 Taliesin is the greatest of Welsh poets, and is called by his countrymen " the
Prince of Song." He became bard at the court of King Arthur, and was one of the
brightest in that glorious assemblage. The actual man Taliesin appears to have lived
in the sixth century, and poems remain which are believed to be his genuine works.
A curious story of his life appears among the publications of the Welsh Manuscript
Society, which I give here as quoted by Lady Guest : —

" Taliesin, Chief of the Bards, the son of Saint Henwg of Caerlleon-upon-Usk,
was invited to the court of Urien Rheged, at Aberllychwr. He, with Elffin the son
of Urien, being once fishing at sea in a skin coracle, an Irish pirate-ship seized him
and his coracle, and bore him away towards Ireland; but while the pirates were at the
height of their drunken mirth, Taliesin pushed his coracle to the sea, and got into it
himself, with a shield in his hand which he found in the ship, and with which he
rowed the coracle until it verged the land ; but, the waves breaking then in wild foam,
he lost his hold on the shield, so that he had no alternative but to be driven at th^
mercy of the sea, in which state he continued for a short time, when the coracle stuck
to the point of a pole in the weir of Gwyddno, Lord of Ceredigion, in Aberdyvi ;
and in that position he was found, at the ebb, by Gwyddno's fishermen, by whom he
was interrogated. And when it was ascertained that he was a bard, and the tutor of
Elffin the son of Urien Rheged, the son of Cynvarch, ' I, too, have a son named
Elffin,' said Gwyddno, 'be thou a bard and teacher to him also, and I will give thee
lands L. free tenure.' The terms were accepted, and for several successive years he
spent his time between the courts of Urien Rheged and Gwyddnr, called Gwyddno

Taliesin. 341

named Morvran ab Tegid, and also a daughter named
Creirwy, the fairest maiden in the world was she ; and
they had a brother, the most ill-favored man in the world,
Avagddu. Now Caridwen his mother thought that he was
not likely to be admitted among men of noble birth, by
reason of his ugliness, unless he had some exalted merits
or knowledge. For it was in the beginning of Arthur's
time and of the Round Table.

So she resolved according to the arts of the books of
the Fferyllt, to boil a caldron of Inspiration and Science
for her son, that his reception might be honorable because

Garanhir, Lord of the Lowland Cantred. But after the territory of Gwyddno had
become overwhelmed by the sea, Taliesin was invited by the Emperor Arthur to his
court at Caerlleon-upon-Usk, where he became highly celebrated for poetic genius, and
useful, meritorious sciences. After Arthur's death he retired to the estate given to
him by Gwyddno, taking Elffin, the son of that prince, under his protection. It was
from this account that Thomas the son of Einion Offeiriad, descended from Gruffydd
Gwyr, formed his romance of Taliesin the son of Cariadwen, Elffin the son of
Goddnou, Rhun the son of Maelgwn Gwynedd, and the operations of the Caldron
of Ceridwen."

I think it interesting to add in this connection that the old Welsh bard was not a
mere versifier, but was a true, wise man, and knew all human learning. Hereby
hangs a little Welsh story, which has always seemed to me of great significance. A
certain Einigan Gawr saw three rays of light, on which were inscribed all knowledge
and science. And he took three rods of mountain-ash, and inscribed all the sciences
upon them, as it should seem in imitation of the three rays of light. And those who
saw them deified the rods, which so grieved Einigan, that he broke the rods, and died.

It may seem, by the way, absurd to speak of inscribing sciences upon rods of ash,
until one knows that the Bardic alphabet, which I believe is now generally regarded
genuine, would seem to have originated in the three rays of light seen by Einigan
Gawr, — as / | \ for example ; being formed entirely of such lines, which, as easily
seen, are easily cut on wood, since they involve no curves, and are capable of being
made with a single stroke of the knife.

342 The Boy's Mabinogion.

of his knowledge of the mysteries of the future state of
the world.

Then she began to boil the caldron, which from the
beginning of its boiling might not cease to boil for a year
and a day, until three blessed drops were obtained of the
grace of Inspiration.

And she put Gwion Bach the son of Gwreang of Llan-
fair in Caereinion, in Powys, to stir the caldron, and a
blind man named Morda to kindle the fire beneath it, and
she charged them that they should not suffer it to cease
boiling for the space of a year and a day. And she her-
self, according to the books of the astronomers, and in
planetary hours, gathered every day of all charm-bearing
herbs. And one day towards the end of the year, as
Caridwen was culling plants, and making incantations, it
chanced that three drops of the charmed liquor flew out of
the caldron and fell upon the finger of Gwion Bach. And
by reason of their great heat he put his finger to his
mouth ; and the instant he put those marvel-working drops
into his mouth, he foresaw every thing that was to come,
and perceived that his chief care must be to guard against
the wiles of Caridwen, for vast was her skill. And in very
great fear he fled towards his own land. And the caldron
burst in two, because all the liquor within it, except the
three charm-bearing drops, was poisonous ; so that the
horses of Gwyddno Garanhir were poisoned by the water
of the stream into which the liquor of the caldron ran ;
and the confluence of that stream was called the Poison of
the Horses of Gwyddno from that time forth.

Taliesin. 343

Thereupon came in Caridwen, and saw all the toil of the
whole year lost. And she seized a billet of wood, and
struck the blind Morda on the head, until one of his eyes
fell out upon his cheek. And he said, " Wrongfully hast
thou disfigured me ; for I am innocent. Thy loss was not
because of me."

" Thou speakest truth," said Caridwen. " It was Gwion
Bach who robbed me."

And she went forth after him, running. And he saw
her, and changed himself into a hare, and fled. But she
changed herself into a greyhound, and turned him. And
he ran towards a river, and became a fish. And she, in the
form of an otter, chased him under the water, until he was
fain to turn himself into a bird of the air. She, as a hawk,
followed him, and gave him no rest in the sky. And just
as she was about to stoop upon him, and he was in fear of
death, he espied a heap of winnowed wheat on the floor of
a barn, and he dropped among the wheat, and turned him-
self into one of the grains. Then she transformed herself
into a high-crested black hen, and went to the wheat, and
scratched it with her feet, and found him out. So she
wrapped him in a leathern bag, and cast him into the sea
to the mercy of God, on the twenty-ninth day of April.

And at that time the weir of Gwyddno was on the
strand between Dyvi and Aberystwyth, near to his own
castle ; and the value of an hundred pounds was taken in
that weir every May Eve. And in those days Gwyddno
had an only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths,

344 The Boy's Mabinogion.

and the most needy. And it grieved his father sore, for
he thought that he was born in an evil hour. And by the
advice of his council his father had granted him the draw-
ing of the weir that year, to see if good luck would ever
befall him, and to give him something wherewith to begin
the world.

And the next day when Elphin went to look, there was
nothing in the weir. But as he turned back he perceived
the leathern bag upon a pole of the weir. Then said one
of the weir-ward unto Elphin, " Thou wast never unlucky
until to-night ; and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of
the weir, which always yielded the value of an hundred
pounds every May Eve ; and to-night there is nothing but
this leathern skin within it."

" How now ? " said Elphin." There may be therein the
value of an hundred pounds." Well, they took up the
leathern bag ; and he who opened it saw the forehead of
the boy, and said to Elphin, " Behold a radiant brow ! " I

"Taliesin be he called," said Elphin. And he lifted the
boy in his arms, and, lamenting his mischance, he placed
him sorrowfully behind him. And he made his horse
amble gently, that before had been trotting ; and he carried
him as softly as if he had been sitting in the easiest chair
in the world. And presently the boy made a Consolation
and praise to Elphin, and foretold honor to Elphin ; and
the Consolation was as you may see : —

1 " Taliesin " means " radiant brow."

Taliesin. 345

" Fair Elphin, cease to lament !
Let no one be dissatisfied with his own :
To despair will bring no advantage.
No man sees what supports him ;
The prayer of Cynllo will not be in vain;
God will not violate his promise.
Never in Gwyddno's weir
Was there such good luck as this night.
Fair Elphin, dry thy cheeks !
Being too sad will not avail,
Although thou thinkest thou hast no gain :
Too much grief will bring thee no good ;
Nor doubt the miracles of the Almighty.
Although I am but little, I am highly gifted.
From seas, and from mountains,
And from the depths of rivers,
God brings wealth to the fortunate man.
Elphin of lively qualities,
Thy resolution is unmanly ;
Thou must not be over sorrowful :
Better to trust in God than to forebode ill.
Weak and small as I am,
On the foaming beach of the ocean,
In the day of trouble I shall be
Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon,
Elphin of notable qualities,
Be not displeased at thy misfortune ;
Although reclined thus weak in my bag,
There lies a virtue in my tongue.
While I continue thy protector
Thou hast not much to fear ;
Remembering the names of the Trinity,
None shall be able to harm thee."

346 The Boy's Mabinogion.

And this was the first poem that Taliesin ever sang,
being to console Elphin in his grief for that the produce
of the weir was lost, and, what was worse, that all the
world would consider that it was through his fault and ill
luck.

Then came Elphin to the house or court of Gwyddno
his father, and Taliesin with him. And Gwyddno asked
him if he had had a good haul at the weir, and he told
him that he had got that which was better than fish.
" What was that ? " said Gwyddno.

" A bard," answered Elphin.

Then said Gwyddno, " Alas, what will he profit thee ? "

And Taliesin himself replied and said, " He will profit
him more than the weir ever profited thee."

Asked Gwyddno, "Art thou able to speak, and thou so
little ? "

And Taliesin answered him, " I am better able to speak
than thou to question me."

And forthwith Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she
nursed him tenderly and lovingly. Thenceforward Elphin
increased in riches more and more day after day, and in
love and favor with the king. And there abode Taliesin
until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin, son of
Gwyddno, went by a Christmas invitation to his uncle,
Maelgwn Gwynedd, who some time after this held open
court at Christmastide in the castle of Dyganwy, for all
the number of his lords of both degrees, both spiritual
and temporal, with avast and thronged hosts of knights and

Taliesin. 347

squires. And amongst them there arose a discourse and
discussion. And thus was it said : —

" Is there in the whole world a king so great as Mael-
gwn, or one on whom Heaven has bestowed so many
spiritual gifts as upon him ? First, form and beauty and
meeknesss and strength, besides all the powers of the
soul ! " And together with these they said that Heaven
had given one gift that exceeded all the others, which was
the beauty and comeliness and grace and wisdom and
modesty of his queen, whose virtues surpassed those of
all the ladies and noble maidens throughout the whole
kingdom. And with this they put questions one to
another amongst themselves, — "Who had braver men,
who had fairer or swifter horses or greyhounds, who had
more skilful or wiser bards — than Maelgwn ? "

Now at that time the bards were in great favor with the
exalted of the kingdom ; and then none performed the
office of those who are now called heralds, unless they
were learned men, not only expert in the service of kings
and princes, but studious, and well versed in the lineage
and arms and exploits of princes and kings, and in dis-
cussions concerning foreign kingdoms and the ancient
things of this kingdom, and chiefly in the annals of the
first nobles, and also were prepared always with their
answers in various languages, — Latin, French, Welsh, and
English. And together with this they were great chron-
iclers and recorders, and skilful in framing verses, and
ready in making englyns in every one of those languages.

348 The Boy 's Mabinogion.

Now of these there were at that feast within the palace of
Maelgwn as many as four and twenty, and chief of them
all was one named Heinin Vardd.

When they had all made an end of thus praising the
king and his gifts, it befell that Elphin spoke in this wise :
" Of a truth none but a king may vie with a king ; but,
were he not a king, I would say that my wife was as full
of virtues as any lady in the kingdom, and also that I have
a bard who is more skilful than all the king's bards." In
a short space some of his fellows showed the king all the
boastings of Elphin ; and the king ordered him to be
thrown into a strong prison until he might know the truth
as to the virtues of his wife and the wisdom of his bard.

Now, when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle,
with a thick chain about his feet (it is said that it was a
silver chain, because he was of royal blood), the king, as
the story relates, sent his son Rhun to inquire into the
demeanor of Elphin's wife. Now, Rhun was the most
graceless man in the world, and there was neither wife
nor maiden with whom he had held converse, but was evil
spoken of. While Rhun went in haste towards Elphin's
dwelling, being fully minded to bring disgrace upon his
wife, Taliesin told his mistress how that the king had
placed his master in durance in prison, and how that
Rhun was coming in haste to strive to bring disgrace
upon her. Wherefore he caused his mistress to array one
of the maids of her kitchen in her apparel ; which the
noble lady gladly did ; and she loaded her hands with the
best rings that she and her husband possessed.

Taliesin. 349

In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the
maiden to sit at the board in her room at supper, and he
made her to seem as her mistress, and the mistress to
seem as the maid. And when they were in due time
seated at their supper in the manner that has been said,
Rhun suddenly arrived at Elphin's dwelling, and was
received with joy, for all the servants knew him plainly.
And they brought him in haste to the room of their
mistress, in the semblance of whom the maid rose up
from supper, and welcomed him gladly. And afterwards
she sat down to supper again the second time, and Rhun
with her. Then Rhun began jesting with the maid, who
still kept the semblance of her mistress. And verily this
story shows that the maiden became so intoxicated, that
she fell asleep ; and the story relates that it was a powder
that Rhun put into the drink, that made her sleep so
soundly that she never felt it when he cut from off her
nand her little ringer, whereupon was the signet-ring of
Elphin, which he had sent to his wife as a token a short
time before. And Rhun returned to the king with the
finger and the ring as a proof, to show that he had cut it
from off her hand without her awaking from her sleep of
intemperance.

The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings ; and he sent
for his councillors, to whom he told the whole story from
the beginning. And he caused Elphin to be brought out
of his prison, and he chided him because of his boast.
And he spake unto Elphin on this wise : " Elphin, be it

35° The Boy's Mabinogion.

known to thee beyond a doubt that it is but folly for a
man to trust in the virtues of his wife further than he can
see her. And, that thou mayest be certain of thy wife's
vileness, behold her finger, with thy signet-ring upon it,
which was cut from her hand last night while she slept
the sleep of intoxication."

Then thus spake Elphin : " With thy leave, mighty
king, I cannot deny my ring; for it is known of many.
But verily I assert strongly that the finger around which
it is was never attached to the hand of my wife ; for in
truth and certainty there are three notable things pertain-
ing to it, none of which ever belonged to any of my wife's
fingers. The first of the three is, that it is certain, by
your grace's leave, that wheresoever my wife is at this
present hour, whether sitting, or standing, or lying down,
this ring would never remain upon her thumb ; whereas
you can plainly see that it was hard to draw it over the
joint of the little finger of the hand whence this was cut.
The second thing is, that my wife has never let pass one
Saturday since I have known her without paring her nails
before going to bed, and you can see fully that the nail of
this little finger has not been pared for a month. The
third is, truly, that the hand whence this finger came was
kneading rye-dough within three days before the finger
was cut therefrom, and I can assure your goodness that
my wife has never kneaded rye-dough since my wife she
has been."
Then the king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so

Taliesin. 351

stoutly withstanding him respecting the goodness of his
wife: wherefore he ordered him to his prison a second
time, saying that he should not be loosed thence until
he had proved the truth of his boast, as well concerning
the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of his wife.

In the mean time his wife and Taliesin remained joyful
at Elphin's dwelling. And Taliesin showed his mistress
how that Elphin was in prison because of them ; but he
bade her be glad for that he would go to Maelgwn's court
to free his master. Then she asked him in what manner
he would set him free. And he answered her [in a song
whereof the last verses are these] : —

" I Taliesin, chief of bards,
With a wise Druid's words,
Will set kind Elphin free
From haughty tyrant's bonds.
To their fell and chilling cry,
By the act of a surprising steed,
From the far distant North,
There soon shall be an end.
Let neither grace nor health
Be to Maelgwn Gwynedd,
For this force and this wrong ;
And be extremes of ills
And an avenged end
To Rhun and all his race :
Short be his course of life,
Be all his lands laid waste ;
And long exile be assigned
To Maelgwn Gwynedd ! "

35 2 The Boy's Mabinogion.

After this he took leave of his mistress, and came at
last to the court of Maelgwn, who was going to sit in his
hall, and dine in his royal state, as it was the custom in
those days for kings and princes to do at every chief feast.
And as soon as Taliesin entered the hall, he placed himself
in a quiet corner, near the place where the bards and the
minstrels were wont to come in during their service and
duty to the king, as is the custom at the high festivals
when the bounty is proclaimed. And so, when the bards
and the heralds came to cry largess, and to proclaim the
power of the king and his strength, at the moment that
they passed by the corner wherein he was crouching, Tal-
iesin pouted out his lips after them, and played " Blerwm,
blerwm," with his finger upon his lips. Neither took they
much notice of him as they went by, but proceeded for-
ward till they came before the king, unto whom they made
their obeisance with their bodies, as they were wont, with-
out speaking a single word, but pouting out their lips, and
making mouths at the king, playing, " Blerwm, blerwm "
upon their lips with their fingers, as they had seen the boy
do elsewhere. This sight caused the king to wonder, and
to deem within himself that they were drunk with many
liquors. Wherefore he commanded one of his lords, who
served at the board, to go to them, and desire them to col-
lect their wits, and to consider where they stood, and what
it was fitting for them to do. And this lord did so gladly.
But they ceased not from their folly any more than before.
Whereupon he sent to them a second time, and a third,

Taliesin. 353

desiring them to go forth from the hall. At the last the
king ordered one of his squires to give a blow to the chief
of them named Heinin Vardd ; and the squire took a
broom and struck him on the head, so that he fell back in
his seat. Then he arose and went on his knees, and be-
sought leave of the king's grace to show that this their
fault was not through want of knowledge, neither through
drunkenness, but by the influence of some spirit that was
in the hall.

And after this Heinin spoke on this wise : "Oh, honor-
able king, be it known to your grace, that not from the
strength of drink, or of too much liquor, are we dumb,
without power of speech like drunken men, but through
the influence of a spirit that sits in the corner yonder in
the form of a child." Forthwith the king commanded the
squire to fetch him. And he went to the nook where
Taliesin sat, and brought him before the king, who asked
him what he was, and whence he came. And he answered
the kinsr in verse : —

" Primary chief bard am I to Elphin,

And my original country is the region of the summer stars ;
Idno and Heinin called me Merddin,
At length every king will call me Taliesin.

1 was with my Lord in the highest sphere,

On the fall of Lucifer into the depth of hell :

I have borne a banner before Alexander ;

I know the names of the stars from north to south ;

I have been on the galaxy at the throne of the Distributor ;

354 The Boy's Mabinogion.

I was in Canaan when Absalom was slain ;

I conveyed the Divine Spirit to the level of the vale of Hebron ,

I was in the court of Don before the birth of Gwdion.

I was instructor to Eli and Enoc ;

I have been winged by the genius of the splendid crosier ;

I have been loquacious prior to being gifted with speech ;

I was at the place of the crucifixion of the merciful Son of God ;

I have been three periods in the prison of Arianrod ;

I have been the chief director of the work of the tower of Nimrod ;

I am a wonder whose origin is not known.

I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark,

I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorra ;

I have been in India when Roma was built,

I am now come here to the remnant of Troia.

I have been with my Lord in the manger of the ass ;

I strengthened Moses through the water of Jordan ;

I have been in the firmament with Mary Magdalene ;

I have obtained the muse from the caldron of Ceridwyn ;

I have been bard of the harp to LI eon of Lochlin.

I have been on the White Hill, in the court of Cynvelyn,

For a day and a year in stocks and fetters,

I have suffered hunger for the Son of the Virgin.

I have been fostered in the land of the Deity,

I have been teacher to all intelligences,

I am able to instruct the whole universe.

I shall be until the day of doom on the face of the earth ;

And it is not known whether my body is flesh or fish.

I was originally little Gwion,

And at length I am Taliesin."

Taliesin. 355

And when the king and his nobles had heard the song,
they wondered much, for they had never heard the like
from a boy so young as he. And when the king knew
that he was the bard of Elphin, he bade Heinin, his first
and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin and to strive with
him. But when he came, he could do no other but play
" blerwm " on his lips ; and when he sent for the others
of the four and twenty bards, they all did likewise, and
could do no other. And Maelgwn asked the boy Taliesin
what was his errand. And he answered him in song : x —

" There ought not to be about me
Any bard who may not know
That Elphin the son of Gwyddno
Is in the land of Artro,
Secured by thirteen locks,
For praising his instructor :
And then I Taiiesin,
Chief of the bards of the west,
Shall loosen Elphin
Out of a golden fetter."

[And then Taliesin sang a song of the Yellow Plague,2
which was afterwards to come up out of the marsh] : —

" Be silent, then, ye unlucky rhyming bards,
For you cannot judge between truth and falsehood.

1 This song, as well as several others, I have taken the liberty of omitting, save
enough to give a fair idea of it.

2 Known as the " Yellow Plague of Rhos," of which Maelgwn is said to have died
in the sixth century. The pestilence originated, according to Welsh tradition, in the
unburied bodies of the slain of Maelgwn's wars.

356 The Boy's Mabinogion.

— — —

If you be primary bards formed by heaven,

Tell your king what his fate will be.

It is I who am a diviner and a leading bard,

And will tell your king what will befall him.

A most strange creature will come from the sea marsh of Rhianedd

As a punishment of iniquity on Maelgwn Gwynedd ;

His hair, his teeth, and his eyes being as gold,

And this will bring destruction upon Maelgwn Gwynedd.'-

[And then Taliesin sang a wonderful song of the great
wind] : —

" Discover thou what is
The strong creature from before the flood,
Without flesh, without bone,
Without vein, without blood,
Without head, without feet ;
It will neither be older nor younger
Than at the beginning ;
For fear of a denial,
There are no rude wants
With creatures.

Great God ! how the sea whitens
When first it comes !
Great are its gusts
When it comes from the south ;
Great are its evaporations
When it strikes on coasts.
It is in the field, it is in the wood,
Without hand and without foot,
Without signs of old age,
Though it be coeval
With the five ages or periods ;

Taliesin. 357

And older still,

Though they be numberless years.

It is also so wide;

As the surface of the earth ;

And it was not born,

Nor was it seen.

It will cause consternation

Wherever God willeth.

On sea, and on land,

It neither sees, nor is seen.

Its course is devious,

And will not come when desired

On land and on sea,

It is indispensable.

It is without an equal,

It is four-sided ;

It is not confined,

It is incomparable ;

It comes from four quarters ;

It will not be advised,

It will not be without advice.

It commences its journey

Above the marble rock.

It is sonorous, it is dumb,

It is mild,

It is strong, it is bold,

When it glances over the land.

It is silent, it is vocal,

It is clamorous,

It is the most noisy

On the face of the earth

It is good, it is bad,

The Boy's Mabinogion.

It is extremely injurious.

It is concealed,

Because sight cannot perceive it.

It is noxious, it is beneficial ;

It is yonder, it is here;

It will discompose,

But will not repair the injury ;

It will not suffer for its doings,

Seeing it is blameless.

It is wet, it is dry.

It frequently comes,

Proceeding trom the heat of the sun,

And the coldness of the moon.

The moon is less beneficial,

Inasmuch as her heat is less.

One Being has prepared it,

Out of all creatures,

By a tremendous blast,

To wreak vengeance

On Maelgwn Gwynedd."

And while he was thus singing his verse near the door,
there arose a mighty storm of wind, so that the king and
all his nobles thought that the castle would fall on their
heads. And the king caused them to fetch Elphin in
haste from his dungeon, and placed him before Taliesin.
And it is said, that immediately he sang a verse, so that
the chains opened from about his feet : —

" I adore the Supreme, Lord of all animation, —
Him that supports the heavens, Ruler of every extreme,
Him that made the water good for all,

Taliesin. 359

Him who has bestowed each gift, and blesses it; —
May abundance of mead be given Maelgwn of Anglesey, who sup-
plies us,

From his foaming meadhorns, with the choicest pure liquor.
Since bees collect, and do not enjoy,

We have sparkling distilled mead, which is universally praised.
The multitude of creatures which the earth nourishes
God made for man, with a view to enrich him ; —
Some are violent, some are mute, he enjoys them,
Some are wild, some are tame ; the Lord makes them ; —
Part of their produce becomes clothing ;
For food and beverage till doom will they continue.
I entreat the Supreme, Sovereign of the region of peace,
To liberate Elphin from banishment,
The man who gave me wine, and ale, and mead,
With large princely steeds, of beautiful appearance ;
May he yet give me ; and at the end,
May God of his good will grant me, in honor,
A succession of numberless ages, in the retreat of tranquillity.
Elphin, knight of mead, late be thy dissolution ! "

And afterwards he sang the ode which is called " The
Excellence of the Bards," which ended with the following

verses : —

" Wherefore should a stone be hard ;

Why should a thorn be sharp-pointed ;
Who is hard like a flint ;
Who is salt like brine ;
Who sweet like honey ;
Who rides on the gale ;

Why ridged should be the nose ;
Why should a wheel be round ;

360 The Boy's Mabinogion.

Why should the tongue be gifted with speech

Rather than another member ?

If thy bards, Heinin, be competent,

Let them reply to me, Taliesin."

And after that he sang the address which is called " Tne
Reproof of the Bards."
Then sang he the piece called " The Spite of the Bards.'

" Minstrels persevere in their false custom,
Immoral ditties are their delight ;
Vain and tasteless praise they recite ;
Falsehood at all times do they utter ;
The innocent persons they ridicule ;
In idleness without work they feed themselves ;
The Church they hate, and the tavern they frequent ;
With thieves and perjured fellows they associate ;
At courts they inquire after feasts ;
Every senseless word they bring forward ;
Every deadly sin they praise ;
Every vile course of life they lead ;
Through every village, town, and country they stroll ;
Concerning the gripe of death they think not ;
Neither lodging nor charity do they give ;
Indulging in victuals to excess.
Psalms or prayers they do not use,
Tithes or offerings to God they do not pay,
On holidays or Sundays they do not worship ;
Vigils or festivals they do not heed.
The birds do fly, the fish do swim,
The bees collect honey, worms do crawl,
Every thing travails to obtain its food,
Except minstrels and lazy useless thieves.

Taliesin. 361

I deride neither song nor minstrelsy,

For they are given by God to lighten thought ;

But him who abuses them,

For blaspheming Jesus and his service."

Taliesin having set his master free from prison, and
having protected his wife, and silenced the bards, so
that not one of them dared to say a word, now brought
Elphin's wife before them, and showed that she had not
one finger wanting. Right glad was Elphin, right glad
was Taliesin.

-